Religious group advocates for accommodations for cannabis use in worship within New York’s legalization law.
Rastafarians like Richard Chung, also known as Ras Opio, have long viewed marijuana as both sacred and a source of income. This perspective has led Rastafarians to play a significant role in the illegal cannabis market in New York, often facing police scrutiny and arrests. Despite the legalization of recreational cannabis in 2021, which aimed to provide opportunities for those impacted by drug laws, the law did not address the needs of individuals whose faith is closely tied to cannabis.
As New York’s legal cannabis market grows to nearly $1 billion in sales, there is a growing movement to recognize the sacramental use of cannabis by groups like Rastafarians. Similar to countries like Jamaica and the U.S. Virgin Islands, where cannabis sacrament is acknowledged, Rastafarians in New York are advocating for legal provisions that allow them to cultivate, sell, and consume cannabis in alignment with their religious beliefs.
Rastafarians are seeking changes in the law to define sacramental cannabis use, reserve licenses for religious communities to grow and distribute cannabis, and ensure that they can incorporate cannabis into their ceremonial practices. This effort is driven by the desire to acknowledge the historical contributions of Rastafarians to the cannabis trade and to provide them with a fair share of the emerging legal market.
Richard Chung, reflecting on his experiences, emphasizes the importance of recognizing the role of Rastafarians in the cannabis industry and ensuring that they are included in the legal market. By advocating for the acknowledgment of cannabis as a sacrament and advocating for specific licenses for religious groups, Rastafarians hope to create a more inclusive and equitable cannabis industry in New York.
Source: The NY Times
