Kenyan High Court rejects Rastafarian cannabis exemption

A Kenyan High Court has dismissed a petition from the Rastafarian community seeking a religious exemption to national drug laws to allow the sacramental use of cannabis. The ruling, delivered by Justice Bahati Mwamuye in Nairobi on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, represents a significant legal setback for the group, which has been pursuing the case since 2021.

The court found that the petitioners failed to establish a sufficient constitutional and legal foundation for an exemption from the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act, which prohibits the cultivation, possession, and use of marijuana. Justice Mwamuye ruled that the community did not demonstrate that the law substantially interferes with their freedom of religion or that cannabis use is an essential, rather than merely preferred, part of their practice. Under the current law, possession is punishable by fines of up to 2,000 Kenyan shillings, imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.

Following the ruling, members of the Rastafari Society of Kenya expressed disappointment but vowed to continue their legal fight. A spokesperson, Ras Wambua, stated the community would not lose hope and would appeal the decision....