In a landmark case testing religious freedoms in Jamaica, Westmoreland resident Troy Harrison successfully had drug charges dismissed under the nation’s Dangerous Drugs Act, only to face an unexpected bureaucratic battle with law enforcement over the return of his confiscated sacramental property.
The legal proceedings concluded on October 28, exactly one week before Category 5 Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica, when the Westmoreland Parish Court dismissed charges against Harrison for possession and dealing of approximately 45 pounds of ganja. The court’s decision rested on Section 7C(2)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which explicitly provides legal protection for Rastafarian community members to possess and use cannabis for religious purposes.
Despite this judicial victory, Harrison’s legal representatives have encountered persistent resistance from Jamaican police authorities who refuse to return the seized sacramental material. Marcus Goffe, the attorney representing Harrison, characterizes the situation as a fundamental violation of his client’s religious rights and property protections.
“The police continue to interpret the law according to their own preferences rather than judicial directives,” Goffe stated in an interview with the Jamaica Observer. “My client was supposed to receive his ganja back immediately following the court’s dismissal. Instead, we’ve encountered a bureaucratic runaround that has stretched for weeks.”
The conflict intensified when Harrison attempted to reclaim his property before Hurricane Melissa’s devastating arrival, only to be informed that additional court orders would be necessary. Post-hurricane attempts in November yielded similar results, with police officials claiming the original court dismissal didn’t explicitly mandate the return of confiscated materials.
Goffe emphasizes the significant investment of time, effort, and resources required to cultivate the 45 pounds of sacramental ganja, which has now been held by authorities for over six weeks without legal justification. The attorney has escalated the matter through formal channels, including a December 2, 2025 letter to the senior legal officer of the Jamaica Constabulary Force demanding immediate return of the religious materials.
The letter outlines broader concerns within the Rastafarian community regarding continued targeting and prosecution despite 2015 legislative amendments designed to protect their religious practices. Goffe references multiple communications from the Minister of Justice to the Police Commissioner specifically outlining Rastafarian ganja rights and requesting accommodation for sacramental practices.
Complicating resolution efforts, the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa has rendered Westmoreland’s courts inoperable, eliminating the possibility of seeking additional judicial orders in the foreseeable future. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between religious protections and law enforcement practices in Jamaica, where cultural attitudes toward cannabis continue to evolve within complex legal frameworks.