Italian High Court Says Rastafarians Protected In Marijuana Use

Earlier this month, in a ruling that breaks new ground in Europe, Italy's high court-- the Court of Cassation -- reversed the conviction of a Rastafarian for trafficking in marijuana. According to a July 10 report by Reuters, the court ruled that Rastafarians should be given special consideration in determining how much marijuana exceeds requirements for personal use since the drug is considered by Rastafarians to be a sacrament. Drug War Chronicle says that possession of small amounts of marijuana is not a crime in Italy. According to London's Independent, Italian Interior Ministry officials say the decision undercuts the country's drug laws.