馃嚢馃嚜KenyaEast Africa
High Court dismisses Rastafarian community's petition to decriminalize bhang in Kenya
via Tuko1 min read
The High Court in Kenya has dismissed a petition by the Rastafarian community that sought to decriminalize the use of bhang, also known as cannabis. Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled that the evidence presented by the petitioners, aiming to link bhang use to their religious beliefs, was inconsistent. The petition had challenged the constitutionality of laws criminalizing bhang, arguing they infringed on the community's right to freedom of religion and worship. However, the court was not persuaded that the legal threshold to invalidate existing laws had been met. This decision means bhang remains an illegal substance in Kenya under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act, with possession, cultivation, trafficking, and consumption continuing to attract criminal penalties. The ruling is expected to influence future constitutional challenges regarding bhang use on religious grounds. The Rastafarian community has not yet indicated whether they will appeal the decision.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Tuko.
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