One Jamaican group which has achieved considerable notoriety through the cultivation and use of marijuana is the Rastafarians . Understanding the Ras Tafari may help define the involvement of some Jamaicans in the illicit drug trade. Ras Tafari was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930 and then adopted the name Haile Selassie. Rastafarians are a religious group, Christian in orientation, with a considerable infusion of African culture. Selassie was their leader and messiah.
Dreadlocks are a symbol of their dedication and devotion to Rastafari.
One belief of the Rastafarians is that the smoking of ganja, which is considered a divine herb, gives them spiritual, mental and physical health. In fact, reggae musicians such as the late Bob Marley, a major star in both Jamaica and the Unites States, frequently sang songs praising and glorifying the use of marijuana. There are an estimated 30 posses operating in the United States, with thousands of members. Jamaican posses can be traced back to the Jamaican neighborhoods, and posse names correspond to the names of each of the neighborhoods in which the gangs operate. Close ties are maintained between the posses and their established neighborhoods.