Rastafarian leaders who reside in the Bahamas are asking for an audience with the government to discuss discrimination and prejudice against their religious community due to their use of cannabis and hemp.
A letter was written by Copeland “Ras Amen” Smith, a representative of the House of Rastafari Inter-Mansion Collective. In his statement, Smith also asked for land on which to cultivate cannabis, establish a credit union and establish a prison ministry.
“The Bahamas Rastafari Community, implore the urgent intervention of our Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Health, Attorney General, and their relevant ministries to address the injustice, prejudice and ongoing discrimination against the Rastafari community in the use, cultivation, importation and possession of the sacrament cannabis/hemp and its byproducts,” the letter read. “Just as Catholics broadly believe in taking communion, the sacrament of Rastafari is cannabis. It is incumbent on the government of The Bahamas to ensure that the rights and privileges of all Bahamians, Rastafari included, are safeguarded by law. This is a matter of social justice.”
In addition to asking for permission to grow cannabis and land to grow on, it also asked for the expungement of cannabis-related criminal records for Rastafarian members, as well as a relaxed arrest rate until new laws are passed. The credit union and prison outreach would be to provide service to the Rasta community.
Smith ended his letter by calling on the government to act quickly and allow the Rastafari collective to wholly embrace their faith and all that it entails. “We humbly invite your conscientious, respectful, and civilized intervention as we delay using the court system to advance our cause. We eagerly anticipate a positive response,” he concluded.
If these requests are granted, the Bahamas will provide a lot more safety and security for Rastafari residents.
