| Photo: Alan Eason/Daily Dispatch |
| From left, South African Rastafarians Zerah Mayo, his brother Adwah Kamini and ‘Rasbaruch’ said they are being discriminated against for smoking marijuana as part of their religion. |
Two physically disabled Rastafarian brothers in South Africa, who have already been arrested three times for marijuana, said the law will not stop them from smoking the illegal herb, reports Kathryn Parkes at the Daily Dispatch.
The Rastas said they need to smoke cannabis, which they call “dagga,” in order to “connect with their God.”
Zerah Mayo and his older brother Adwah Kamini had their case thrown out of court on a technicality last Friday after they were arrested and charged with selling marijuana earlier this year.
The brothers called it a victory, and said they only smoke dagga and do not sell it.
Even having their door kicked in and their housed raided by police in the middle of the night hasn’t been enough to stop the brothers. They still openly admit to smoking pot.
Mayo, who was born with only one arm, and Kamini, who is wheelchair-bound due to cerebral palsy, still have another marijuana possession case pending, and have previously been found guilty in the East London Magistrate’s Court for smoking dagga.
The brothers were given a suspended sentence upon their previous conviction.
Mayo and Kamini are two of an estimated 100 Rastafarians in East London, South Arica fighting to have their religion and culture tolerated by police.
The two South African brothers, who attended Boston College, joined the Boboshanti Salvation Church 10 years ago, and have struggled against South Africa’s marijuana laws ever since.
Mayo, 27, explained that marijuana is traditionally smoked by Rastas three times a day — morning, afternoon and evening — before praying.
According to Mayo, most Rastafarians believe marijuana is the “true blood of Messiah — our God.”