Kenya is slowly turning into a State where selling bhang is, well according to stoners, a normal and legal way of marking money.
Bhang is considered a narcotic in Kenya and its cultivation, possession and use are a criminal offence under the Penal Code. Those convicted can be jailed for 10-20 years.
In photos shared to us via an anonymous source, there is an open-air market of bhang where peddlers and stoners converge to make both ends meet.
Here are the photos as shared
Kenyans on Bhang
This is not the first time Kenyans have joined the push to legalize the use of medicinal marijuana, a move in which most of the countries that have woke leaders have endorsed and passed too.
Here is a video of the late Ken Okoth, then Kibra MP explaining why the criminalization of medicinal marijuana is an archaic thinking
Kibra MP Ken Okoth was a intelligent legislature, his school of thought is unmatched.
'Why are we farming sugarcane that's sinking our farmers into poverty…get rid of cane farming grow marijuana sell it legally, tax it, where is money? why is tabacco any better than weed?' pic.twitter.com/xLLfWEy1g8
— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@CisNyakundi) August 3, 2019
Reactions from other Kenyans on Twitter
Many do not know Hon. Okoth’s passion about the legalization of medicinal marijuana stems from his cancer battle. The use of marijuana in the treatment of Cancer is now a widely accepted medical procedure.
— D I K E M B E (@Disembe) February 3, 2019
In his last days, medicinal marijuana helped Ken Okoth manage his pain. Okoth was pushing for decriminalization of handling of the drug and amnesty for those who may have been prosecuted for using or growing the plant.https://t.co/O0a4IfXcqT President Uhuru #legalizemarijuana
— Boniface Mwangi (@bonifacemwangi) May 1, 2020
Last year, the Rastafarian Society of Kenya filed a petition to decriminalise the use of cannabis or bhang for ‘spiritual’ purposes.
They argue that followers and believers of the Rastafari faith use cannabis by smoking, drinking, bathing or burning incense for spiritual, medical, culinary and ceremonial purposes as a sacrament to manifest their faith.
In their petition, they also argue that Rastafarians are apolitical and therefore have no political power. They say they are subject to prejudices such as intimidation and searches on their homes because of their use of cannabis.
“It is the Petitioner’s contention that the impugned section clearly show differential treatment on the basis of Religion and privacy perpetuates the culture, stigma and discrimination against the 1st petitioners’ followers through the continued use of archaic laws that violate the rights of the 1st petitioners’ members,” the court document reads.
Lawyers Shadrack Wambui and Alexander Mwendwa said that cannabis was a “sacrament” connecting believers to their “creator”.
They said authorities did not ensure the group’s religious rights were respected and infringed a 2019 high court ruling that said Rastafarians were a religious group and should be treated as one.
“This, therefore, makes it criminal for rastas to assemble in prayer and partake the herb as a sacrament,” the lawyers argued.
They also want the court to suspend the arrest or prosecution of members who use cannabis for their spiritual and private growth.
What’s your take?
