ST JAMES, Jamaica – Several Rastafarians, on Wednesday, staged a peaceful protest outside the courthouse in Montego Bay, St James to call out what they deem as the unfair treatment of some members of their community in relation to how marijuana is used.

The protestors, who were supporting a community member who had a court hearing on Wednesday in relation to the issue, said despite changes to legislation governing marijuana use in 2015 as it relates to religious use, members still are facing these sorts of challenges.

Edward Wray, otherwise called ‘Firstman’ acting as a spokesman for the group and a member of the advocacy group, Rastafarian and Grassroots Ganja Association (RAGGA), lamented what he deems as a lack of recognition of the rights of the members of the community in that regard.

“We are here to say it must come to an end, they can’t continue to brutalise Rastafari, give you your right but then you have to fight for it in court, paying lawyers a whole heap of money and all these things to ensure your rights can be preserved and acknowledged properly,” he told OBSERVER ONLINE outside the St James Circuit Court.

The Rastafarian man, who identifies as ‘Ras Negus’, a St James native, was arrested and charged on December 22 last year for possession of the plant.

“Ever since the amendment was done, in some cases as it relates to events, this brother has been the one that has been transporting herb for Rastafari and he has been acknowledged by the government over 13 times in the eight years and yet still, he is still being dragged in front of the courts,” he said, bemoaning the actions of the authorities.

They support their action by pointing to section 7 (c) of the Dangerous Drugs Act that they said allows for possession of the plant on the grounds of their Rastafarian faith.

The group is now wondering if they are being targeted, a point also raised by the spokesman. “We are confused, we are not sure if this is profiling,” Wray remarked.

“If the government has authorised the person charged now to carry more than 10 pounds of herb for us over 13 times, he is not Rasta when it is authorised, is Rasta all the time so for them to know exactly where he is, give him a permit to travel and then come pick him up with his herbs makes no sense,” Wray further lamented.

He said there is now just an air of mistrust among members of the community for the authorities despite having approached the government and negotiated in good faith on the issue.

“It seems like now since we have given them our information, our location, them using it against us and that is what we want to address,” he further stated.

Wray was quick to point out that the move seems to be having a negative effect on their work as advocates given that their members are now cautious about how they treat with them for fear that it could lead to the authorities targeting them.

“We would love to, as people who have lost our economic rights, our social rights, our spiritual rights, we dont have the money to be fighting it in court so what we hope to get from out of this is that there can be some respectful behaviour towards Rastafari,” Wray remarked.