“Ganja,” as marijuana is known in Jamaica, has a long history in that country, and its arrival predates the Rastafari faith. The faithful smoke it as a sacrament in chalice pipes or cigarettes called “spliffs,” add it to vegetarian stews and place it in fires as a burnt offering. Rastafari followers believe the use of marijuana is directed in biblical passages and that the “holy herb” induces a meditative state. The beliefs are a melding of Old Testament teachings and a desire to return to Africa. The Rastafari faith is rooted in 1930s Jamaica, growing as a response by Black people to white colonial oppression. “We must address these things before we get too ahead of ourselves,” said Nyah, who attended the ceremony wearing a tracksuit in the Rastafari colors of red, green and gold. Virgin Islands and a Rastafari Coalition member. “In this system, they’re very focused on, ‘Oh, we can make a lot of money, we can sell these medicinal cards, we can sell this ganja,’ but what of the people who have been persecuted? What of the people who have been sent to jail, imprisoned, even killed,” said Ras Nyah, a music producer from the U.S. and across the world toward legalization of the drug for both medical and recreational purposes, Rastafari are clamoring for broader relaxation to curtail persecution and ensure freedom of worship. As public opinion and policy continues to shift in the U.S. But for decades, many have been incarcerated because of their use of cannabis. “It’s important for Rastafari because we follow the traditions of the Scriptures and we see that cannabis is good.”įor Rastafari, the ritualistic smoking of marijuana brings them closer to the divine. “Cannabis is something that puts you in contact with the spiritual aspect of life in the physical body,” said Tafari, a member of the Columbus-based Rastafari Coalition, which organized the event. For hours, the group played traditional Nyabinghi music on their most important holy day. The ceremony in Columbus, Ohio marked the 91st anniversary of the coronation of the late Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I, whom Rastafari worship as their savior. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Mosiyah Tafari banged on drums and chanted psalms with other Rastafari in a ballroom where the smoke of frankincense mixed with the fragrant smell of marijuana - which his faith deems sacred.
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