The Rastafari Rootzfest, launched on October 27, 2015 at the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, Jamaica, brought together reggae music and ganja in a groundbreaking event on the Caribbean island that has led the way in decriminalising marijuana. It was described as “the first international wellness festival which celebrates Jamaica's indigenous peoples and their cultural heritage.”

Rootzfest, which took place from November 12-15 in Negril, was the first money-making event exempted under a new law that went into effect earlier this year recognising Rastafari sacramental and religious rights in the country. Rastafarian religious traditions incorporate the spiritual use of marijuana.  Mark Golding, Jamaica's minister of justice, pioneered the legislation.

The idea behind Rootzfest was to produce an annual educational ganja festival that “celebrates Rastafari ideology, liberty and culture and tells the story of the Rastafari struggle for the legalisation of ganja and celebrates the decriminalisation of ganja in Jamaica,” said Barbara Blake-Hannah, a specialist on Jamaican culture, entertainment, films, literature and society with a deep...