Rastafarian on 2022 ganja charges to return to court October 27

WESTERN BUREAU:

Charles ‘Ras Negus’ Largie, the Rastafarian whose arrest for possessing two pounds of ganja triggered a silent protest by other Rastafarians outside the St James Parish Court in April, is booked to return to court for his trial’s continuation on October 27.

Largie, who is charged with possession of and dealing in ganja, got the new court date and had his bail extended when he made his latest appearance before presiding Parish Judge Sasha-Marie Ashley last Thursday.

When Largie arrived in court at about 11:30 a.m., Judge Ashley questioned why he was just arriving when his matter had previously been called up in his absence. Approximately one hour prior to Largie’s arrival, the case had been rescheduled as Largie’s lawyer, Chumu Parris, had another case before the Western Regional Gun Court.

“Why are you late coming to court, Mr Largie?” asked Ashley.

“I was outside, Miss,” Largie replied.

“Your attorney was here and we agreed on a new date. You may know that he is in the Gun Court and cannot attend today, so October 27 is the new court date and your bail is extended,” Ashley explained, before allowing Largie to leave.

Largie has been on trial since April this year, following his arrest on December 22, 2022, after two pounds of ganja were allegedly found inside his shop.

During Largie’s court appearance on April 26 this year, members of the Rastafarian community staged a peaceful protest outside the courthouse. The demonstrators condemned Largie’s arrest as a violation of Rastafarians’ right to freely use ganja as part of their sacraments, in keeping with previous talks with the Government about the 2015 amendment of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Ironically, in September 2022, three months prior to Largie’s arrest and charge, Culture Minister Olivia Grange voiced disappointment that Rastafarians have not been adequately benefiting from Jamaica’s cannabis industry.

In a similar case in 2021, St Thomas-based Rastafarian farmer Royan Harris was charged with possession of ganja, dealing in ganja and cultivating ganja after a police team swooped down on his farm in Dumfries district in that parish on February 18 that year. During the police operation, 806 ganja plants on Harris’ premises were destroyed.

However, Harris argued at the time that he was legally growing the ganja for sacramental use by members of the Ethiopian African Black International Congress (EABIC), a Rastafarian group. Members of the EABIC subsequently came out in support of Harris, while expressing surprise at the actions of the police.

Since the 2015 amendment of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which relaxed the law on the possession and use of ganja, there have been complaints from members of the Rastafarian community that the police have been ignoring the new provision and trampling on their rights.