The U.S. State Department released its annual report on international religious issues to Congress. This year, the report examined the relationship between marijuana laws and other countries’ respect for or violation of the rights to practice religion by certain believers.
The report for 2022 revealed that there is a greater tolerance among religious groups, such as Rastafarians, who use cannabis in a ceremonial way. Spiritual leaders have said they are encouraged by reforms to decriminalize or legalize marijuana.
Religious organizations in certain countries, such as Saint Lucia said the government actively engaged them regarding cannabis issues. While certain groups continue to fight against the prohibition of marijuana in other countries, a policy they claim violates their religious rights, in 2022 the trend was more positive for those who use marijuana as part spiritual tradition.
The Report does not explain how the federal criminalization of marijuana in the U.S. impacts the rights of domestic religious groups. While President Joe Biden ordered a review of marijuana scheduling in the United States last year, the prohibition still remains and does not make any exceptions for spiritual use.
This is a summary of the findings:
Antigua and Barbuda
The report states that a law decriminalizing marijuana would “also acknowledge the government’s obligation to protect the religious rights” of people of the Hindu or Rastafari faiths.
The law permits these people to obtain a special license for religious use of the plant in their home, to use it for religious purposes either within their own homes or approved places of worship and to transport the plant from their home to approved places of faith.
The State Department states that the special religious license does not allow the commercial sale of marijuana. “Some Rastafarians who have licenses to grow cannabis have complained about being arrested by police for transporting cannabis between their private homes and places of worship, as the law allows.”
Bahamas
State Department reported that Rastafarians have complained to the State Department about the continued violation of “their constitutional rights to religious freedom” by the government, which prohibits the use of marijuana for ceremonial rituals. There are plans to legalize medical cannabis.
It says: “Rastafarians claimed that police continue to profile them and arrest for having small amounts of marijuana used in rituals.” Rastafarians who were convicted of a criminal offense were subject to the prison’s policy on short hair and required to cut their dreadlocks.
Rastafarians convicted of drug offenses are also placed in rehabilitation centres, according to the report.
In 2022 “the government began consultations with Rastafarian leaders regarding medicinal cannabis and hemp legislation,” said Rithmond MCKinney, Rastafarian leader. “The discussions were a positive step for sanctioning marijuana usage by the Rastafarian Community.” The government expects to present the bill in 2023.”
Dominica
Rastafarians in Dominica “continued pressing the government to legalize marijuana use for religious reasons following the decriminalization for possession of less than an ounce of cannabis in 2020,” but cultivation was still prohibited.
The department reported that “Representatives from the Rastafarian Community have again stated authorities do not enforce the laws against marijuana use when the community uses it in their religious rites.” In July, Roosevelt Skerrit declared his support for the domestic medical marijuana industry.
Ethiopia
Rastafari in Ethiopia have said they’ve been treated with suspicion by other communities due to “their spiritual usage of marijuana.”
Guyana
Rastafari from Guyana have said that the law which continues to criminalize possession up to 15 grams cannabis, “violates their religious practices”.
The Rastafarians also claimed that the legislation passed last year, which allowed counseling and community service to be substituted for a sentence of up to 30 grams, “discriminated” against them because it “hindered their constitutional right to freely exercise their religion”.
Rastafari Council ‘continued to ask the government to legalize small amounts of marijuana used for religious purposes,’ and a member of the council’said that he thought the new law was discriminatory against Rastafarians as it hindered the constitutional right of Rastafarians to freely practice their faith.
Jamaica
Rastafari have reported discrimination in their attempts to join the Jamaica Defense Force. The military institution has said that it does not discriminate on the basis of religious identity. However, strict rules are still in place to prohibit the use cannabis and mandate hair length standards.
Rastafarians were not allowed to join the military because of the requirements.
The report states that “Rastafarians continue to report wider acceptance in society, despite the negative stereotypes and stigma associated with wearing locs and using marijuana.”
Malawi
The State Department stated that “Rastafarians continue to object to laws in which the possession and use of cannabis is a criminal offence, stating it was part of their religion.”
Mauritius
Rastafarians protested peacefully in November last year to “denounce that they can’t legally use marijuana during their religious ceremonies”, under the Dangerous Drugs Act.
The police arrested 12 Rastafari during the protest and later released them on bail.
Saint Kitts and Nevis
The report states that “the constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and it prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion.” The government continues to ban public marijuana use except in places of worship of the Rastafarian religion community or anywhere authorized by the Prevention and Abatement of the Misuse and Abuse of Drugs Act.
Bipartisan support was given to a proposal by a top government official to implement a court ruling from 2019 that permits “citizens” to use marijuana “legally in private places”. This includes “religious activities as well as registered spaces of worship, for members of Rastafarian religion.”
Saint Lucia
Last year, after decriminalizing possession of up 30 grams of marijuana by individuals for personal use, the government met with the Saint Lucian Christian church and the Rastafarian communities to discuss cannabis policy.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
The report states that “possession of less than two ounces of marijuana, even for religious purposes, is not criminalized.”
It says: “As a consequence of decriminalizing possession of small quantities of marijuana for personal consumption, observers reported widespread and increasing cannabis use on the main island of the country, which they believed indicated broader social acceptance of its usage.”
Seychelles
Rastafarians pushed for the legalization marijuana. The Seychelles Interfaith Council backed the move, but only for medical purposes. They also backed policies to discourage youth use.
Sierra Leone
Rastafarians in Sierra Leone said that “the government continued to prohibit marijuana production, consumption, and sale” but they did not report any arrests, fines, or other punishments for their members.
The report states that “Rastafarians claimed this prohibition was an infringement of their religious freedom, as they could not access cannabis which was, according to them, a key component of their religion practices.”
Trinidad and Tobago
In the report, it is noted that possession of up to 30 grams cannabis remains legal while public consumption is prohibited.
The law allows for the removal of prior marijuana convictions and also permits individuals to grow plants for their own personal use.
United States
The State Department report does not mention domestic cannabis policy, or its discriminatory effect on marijuana consumers. This is despite the fact that U.S. Courts have repeatedly rejected cases that argued that religious exceptions to cannabis criminalization laws should be allowed. These laws result in hundreds and thousands of arrests each year.
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