Legalize Bhang. Kenya's Rastafarian Community Petitions
By: Gerry Gerry Phanuel
Posted on Thursday, May 20, 2021
The Rastafarian community in Kenya has filed a petition at the Milimani Law Courts seeking to legalize marijuana. The group advocates for the state to let the Rastafarians use cannabis in their houses and places of worship which is illegal with the current laws.
In the petition, they argue that believers of the Rastafari Faith use bhang for spiritual, medicinal, and ceremonial purposes. The drug is commonly referred to as bhang, nyasore, Kush, weed or Bangi, by the users. It was banned in Kenya during the British colonial East Africa Protectorate under the Opium Ordinance, effective 1 January 1914. Cannabis consumption is illegal in Kenya, with offenders facing up to eight years (formerly fifteen) of imprisonment.
The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs recently voted to remove cannabis and cannabis resin from a category of the world's most dangerous drugs, which could positively impact the global medical marijuana industry. However, National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) CEO Victor Okioma said Kenya's position in recognizing cannabis potential for abuse and the apparent health risks and the heightened level of abuse both globally and nationally remained.
Bhang is a drug that is yet to be legally accepted in most African Countries. The first African country to legalize marijuana was Lesotho in 2017 for medical purposes. Zambia followed by legalizing marijuana production for export in December 2019. In East Africa, Uganda is the only country that legally grows Bhang but for economical purposes. Uganda launched its first venture in the medicinal cannabis market through an Israeli company and its local partner. The farm found outside the Ugandan town of Kasese grows weed in tightly controlled conditions. Then it is escorted to the airport by anti-narcotics police, flown out of the country, and sold to pharmaceutical companies. The farm is run by Industrial Globus, a joint venture between Industrial Hemp, a Ugandan firm, and Together Pharma, an Israeli company listed on the Tel Aviv stock exchange.
In September 2018, South Africa's Constitutional Court ruled that the recreational use of cannabis was no longer a criminal offense. Malawi has become the latest southern African country to legalize the growing, selling, and exporting cannabis.
According to the Malawian minister for agriculture, Kondwani Nankhumwa Legalization of this crop will contribute to economic growth.
"Legalization of this crop will contribute to economic growth as it will contribute in the diversification of the economy and boost the country's exports, especially at this time when tobacco exports are dwindling."
According to Barclays Bank, the global market for medical cannabis is currently estimated at $150 billion and could reach $272 billion in 2028. Should Kenya put aside conservatism and jump for this opportunity?
