Lit_Match

Marijuana is a sacrament - court victory for Rastas
07-14-08|Pendle Today

TOP judges in Italy have acknowledged the rights of marijuana-smoking Rastafarians.
A high court ruling has stated that since their religion considers marijuana a sacrament, its followers should be given special treatment when it comes to possession - and how much makes a drug trafficker.

Media reports have highlighted the case of a reggae musician sentenced to 16 months in prison by a court in Perugia after he was found with enough of the drug to roll 70 cigarettes. But the appeal court annulled his sentence, saying the amount seemed appropriate for personal use considering the big amounts Rastafarians smoke.

"He was convicted because of the amount ... for trafficking, but it was for his own personal use," said his lawyer.

Rastafari, a religion that emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s, considers Ethiopia its spiritual home and its former emperor, Haile Selassie, as divine.

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