The National Rastafari Registry Secretariat and Trust (NRRST) is urging all Rastafari to “plant seven”.

Trustee Ras Lee Small said it was a form of protest against “oppressive” marijuana laws, whereby each participant would plant seven ganja plants on their properties.

“Rastafari are lawful people, but unjust laws must be resisted,” he said during a press conference recently at Carlton House, Two Mile Hill, St Michael. 

“This initiative was born with the purpose of further liberating Rastafari and marijuana. ‘Plant 7’ is a Rastafari community initiative . . . . As such, Rastafari claim their full constitutional rights within the framework of a Rastafari-dominated cannabis civil disobedience movement. All Rastas are asked to plant seven plants within the privacy of their homes. 

“The NRRST notes all other CARICOM islands involved with medicinal cannabis have given their citizens some leeway and access to the cannabis plant, but in Barbados, we continue to have absolutely no [broad] access to the plant,” Small lamented. 

He urged those who participate not to resist when or if the police visited their homes after planting the marijuana. Instead, he advised them to tell the officers they were practising Rastafari and, under the Constitution, were allowed to cultivate and use marijuana in the sanctity of their homes for sacramental purposes. He also advised them to contact the Trust for legal advice and validation.

Another trustee, Ras Martin Evanson, said they needed to have an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and the head of the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority, and “anyone hindering the liberation of I and I”, adding the community had lost faith in the Ichirouganaim Council for the Advancement of Rastafari.

“We definitely are looking forward to a response from those in charge of this industry and we hope that it is heeded this time. 

“It is not fair that we talk about the CARICOM community and yet still our brothers and sisters in the islands have leeway in which they can be more comfortable, but we are still suffering. It’s not fair, it’s not just,” he said. 

Evanson added that if Government was seeking reparations for wrongs done to people in the Caribbean and black people worldwide, they too were justified in seeking reparations from the present-day Government. He said other countries had made movements to recognise Rastafari, but in Barbados, “we don’t get no respect”.

Paul “Simba” Rock said they were more than willing to take part in the medicinal cannabis industry, but they did not have the funds to do so, as the industry was prohibitively priced far beyond their means.

“This is why we are taking the initiative of ‘Plant 7’. Barbados is moving into the business aspect of the industry, but not exploring the health aspect. Before we get to the pharmaceuticals and money, we have to get to justice,” he argued.

Members of the audience also voiced their concerns. 

“Sister Coral” said marijuana was a plant, not a drug, and asked why they were being restricted in its use. 

“Ramses” said CARICOM and the United Nations had both relaxed their stances on marijuana, but Barbados still had “draconian” laws. He sought to refute the notion that marijuana made people violent, declaring the Rastafari community was among the most peaceful around.

Small said he had not smoked marijuana in 24 years but chewed it as food, which he said could only be done with naturally-grown ganja without chemicals. 

Others present said the plant was useful in making oils, paper, clothes, teas, wallets and more.

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