Protesting Rastas say State breaching their ganja rights
Published:Thursday | April 27, 2023 | 12:59 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
MEMBERS OF the Rastafari and Grassroots Ganja Association (RAGGA) are accusing the State of not respecting their sacramental rights to possess ganja, following the recent arrest and charge of a prominent member of the group for possession.
Contending that they are “tired of the crucifixion”, the members of the group on Wednesday staged a protest outside the St James Parish Court, where Charles ‘Ras Negus’ Largie, who was arrested on December 22, 2022, for possession of two pounds of ganja, appeared to answer to the charge against him.
RAGGA spokesman Edward ‘Firstman’ Wray condemned Largie’s arrest, saying that it is a violation of Rastafarians’ right to freely use ganja as part of their sacraments, in keeping with previous agreements with the Government.
“In 2015, the Government amended the Dangerous Drugs Act, and within that amendment, Rastafari got an unlimited movement with our sacrament (ganja). The Ministry of Justice is responsible to ensure that Rastafari liberty with the ‘herb’ happens, but this ministry has not been doing that, or they are dragging their feet along with it,” said Wray.
“As a result of that, Rastafari brethren and sistren who look to exercise their rights according to the amendment are still finding themselves in court, and this is why we are here today (Wednesday),” explained Wray.
“We started to have conversations with the Government openly. They invited us to have a reasoning with them, and we went and had the reasoning. We are having a concern that that has now become information to profile us, to bring us into court and jail, after we went willingly to be having these conversations with Government,” he added.
On February 6, 2015, the Senate passed a bill to amend the Dangerous Drugs Act to decriminalise ganja for medicinal, religious, scientific, and therapeutic purposes. The bill, which was spearheaded by then-Minister of Justice, Mark Golding, sought to make the possession of two ounces or less of ganja a ticketable, but non-arrestable, infraction.
Under Section 18 of the Dangerous Drugs (Cannabis Licensing) (Interim) Regulations of 2016, where an application to process ganja for medical, therapeutic, or scientific purposes is approved, the relevant authority shall issue to the applicant a Tier One licence for ganja processing on premises not exceeding 200 square metres. A Tier Two licence may be granted in respect of a licence to process ganja on more than 200 square metres of land.
Wray is arguing that Largie has been brought before the court multiple times despite having sought a ganja permit on 13 different occasions.
“When the Government gives a permit, it first comes from the Ministry of Justice, then it goes toward the police high commissioner’s office, and then you can use it on the road. So over 13 times, this brethren (Largie) has been allowed to do this, and yet still the same brethren is being hauled into court under possession and dealing charges,” said Wray.
Largie, who is charged with possession of and dealing in ganja, had his bail extended and is to return to court on May 5.