Whereas Rastafari regards the herb/hemp/marijuana/cannabis as sacred,

And whereas the herb forms part of the religious/spiritual observance and practise of the Rastafari Community,

And whereas the constitution of St. Christopher and Nevis guarantees the right to freedom of religious observance and practise,

And whereas increasingly, scientific evidence points to the medicinal therapeutic and practical benefits of herb/hemp/marijuana/cannabis,

And whereas herb/hemp/marijuana/cannabis is being used extensively in the treatment of several diseases and ailments,

And whereas evidence in those countries where legalisation /decriminalisation has been introduced points to a decrease in hard drug usage, crime and violence,

And whereas there is acknowledged widespread and in increasing use of herb/marijuana/hemp/cannabis in St. Kitts and Nevis.

And whereas evidence in those countries where legalisation /decriminalisation has shown billions of dollars in profit from the sale of herb/marijuana/cannabis thus boosting the economies and benefiting from the financial gains.

And whereas some of our neighbours and member state has taken steps to tolerate and decriminalise possession of small amounts of the herb/marijuana/cannabis.

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED,

Hereby petition the Government of St. Christopher and Nevis to give immediate and due consideration to the question of herb/marijuana/hemp/cannabis and the immense suffering that the present laws have inflected on a wide cross section of our society and to effect the legalisation of this God made plant.