Getting irie with a Ballito Rasta

Marijuana, weed, dagga, cannabis, grass, ganja, pot. It has as many names as there are opinions on the use and legality of the plant, but who are the guys who actually sell the product?

The Courier spoke to a local Rastafarian who sells cannabis on the Dolphin Coast.

David (not his real name) is 28 years old and has been selling cannabis for 11 years. He lives in Shakaskraal with his grandmother.

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“I am not like those guys you see wearing the colours (yellow, red and green) who are just out to sell dagga to tourists and rip people off,” he said.

“I am a proud Rastafarian, I do this for the glory of Jah (God) and the emperor Haile Selassie.”

Rastafians are members of a faith that is based on a specific interpretation of the Bible, known as ‘Rastalogy’.

Central to the Rastafarian faith is a monotheistic belief in a single God -referred to as Jah – who lives inside each individual. Haile Selassie – the former emperor of Ethiopia – is also given central importance. Many Rastas regard him as literal incarnation of Jah or as the Second Coming of Christ. Others see him as a prophet who Jah sent to reveal the inner divinity in each person.

“The first few times I smoked it was an eye opener for me – I wanted to know more about this miraculous plant and that is when I discovered the Rastafari faith,” David explained.

On a good day he said he would sell upwards of R3000 worth of marijuana, with holiday season being his busiest time of the year.

“I move between all the major beaches from day to day, people know where to come look for me and they can see I am a Rasta.”

He sells his product in small jewelry baggies at R100 – R200 per gram, depending on the quality.

“If you are buying from some guy who is selling you baggies for R50, you might as well smoke garden grass – I only sell the best stuff.

“If I could live without the money, I would give the ganja to people for free to help open their minds and bring peace to their lives.”

David was raised by his grandmother after his mother passed away at an early age. He never knew his father.

“At first my gran was not pleased at all. She thought dagga was a drug and, as a Christian, she thought I was abandoning our faith.”

David said in time his grandmother came to accept his new faith and that he now supports the two of them with just the money he earns selling cannabis.

“You would be surprised at the kinds of people who are regular customers.

“They are young and old, from poor guys to people who drive up in fancy SUV’s – and more white guys than black come to buy from me.”

He said business was good on the North Coast, with many people smoking and opinions about the plant more relaxed than in other places.

Rastafarians believe the use of cannabis is promoted in the Bible, specifically in Genesis 1: 29 where God said: “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it,” as well as other passages such as Psalms 18:8, and Revelations 22:2. They believe cannabis is a divine herb with healing powers.

David said he would never stop smoking the herb, in spite of its illegal status.

“When I smoke it is like a Catholic taking communion, I will not let the laws of man come before the laws of Jah.”

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