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Italy: a Rastafarian authorized to consume cannabis

Published

9 years ago

November 2, 2017

An Italian court acquitted a man who was arrested with 58 grams of cannabis in his possession because he was using his «sacred herb» to meditate.

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To explain the reasons behind the acquittal, the court in Bari, a small town in southern Italy, stated that «Rastafarians follow a religion whose adherents use cannabis for meditation,» adding that the substance was intended solely for personal use.

The 30-year-old man had been arrested in May 2016 after police found 8 grams of marijuana on him and 50 grams at his home.

The man had explained that he had set up a room in his home for meditation, where he listened to Rasta music while smoking cannabis.

The prosecutor had sought a 4-month prison sentence for him, but the defense attorney argued that the cannabis was considered a herb considered sacred by the Rastafarian religion.

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Rastafarians do indeed believe in the sacred powers of cannabis and use it to meditate and strengthen their sense of unity and spirituality. A short prayer is traditionally recited before consumption.

Although it lacks international legal recognition, Rastafarianism is considered a religion in Jamaica, where it originated. Before Decriminalizing Cannabis, Jamaica had, in fact, legalized the sacred use of marijuana.

It remains to be seen whether this court ruling will set a legal precedent, which could prompt many Italians to convert.

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Aurélien BERNARD

Aurélien founded Newsweed in 2015. Particularly interested in international regulations and the various cannabis markets, he also has an extensive knowledge of the plant and its uses.