ST JAMES, Jamaica – Charles ‘Ras Negus’ Largie, the high-profile Montego Bay-based Rastafarian who was arrested by the St James police after he was found with two pounds of ganja which he claimed was for sacramental purposes, was fined when he appeared in the St James Parish Court on Thursday.

Largie led the court through a trial in which his lawyer, Chumu Paris, contended that his possession of ganja during his arrest was justified by his right to religious freedom.

Paris also stated that the Constitution recognises religious freedom and that it is one’s duty to exercise that right. He highlighted that when examining the legislation, no requirements are provided regarding how one should practise their faith.

However, Largie was convicted for possession and dealing in ganja on January 18.

In passing the sentence on Thursday, presiding judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley imposed a fine of $9,000 or 30 days’ imprisonment for possessing the marijuana.  Additionally, he was fined $11,000 or 30 days’ imprisonment for dealing in the drug.

Largie’s arrest has angered the older members of the broader Rastafarian community, who claim that his religious privilege to have cannabis was being violated once again, demonstrating how agents of the State are defying the law that permits Rastafarians to use cannabis as a religious sacrament.

Largie is the founder of Ras Tafari Root House, a well-known and established sacramental space in Montego Bay. It is one of the spaces where Rastafari elders and other adult members of the community are provided with the opportunity to obtain their sacred sacrament without any restrictions, safely and of exceptional quality.

According to police, they went to Largie’s shop and found ganja in three transparent bags. They also found 95 transparent vials and a transparent jar marked “Rastafarian Cannabis”.

When cautioned, Largie reportedly said to the officer, “A mi name Charles Largie… mi get back mi ganja from the same police station before.”