Renowned Malawian Rastafari and Malawi Cannabis Regulatory Authority (CRA) board member David Chikomeni Chirwa (pictured here) has been granted bail following his arrest at a roadblock for the illegal possession of cannabis sativa while travelling from Lilongwe to Mzuzu.
Chirwa (49) appeared in court on Friday 14 August 2026 along with co-accused Storm Kandodo (45) following the pair’s arrest at Jenda Police Roadblock on the night of 6 August 2026 for possession of cannabis without a permit. Jenda Police spokesperson Gladwell Simwaka confirmed that Chirwa was granted bail to appear at a later date.
The charges stem from an amount of 19.2kg of cannabis the police seized from a Toyota Sienta Chirwa and his accomplice were travelling in, according to police.
Chirwa is a prominent longtime legalisation advocate whose trademark dreadlocks have made him an instantly recognisable figure in Malawi, seen as a sign of his Rastafarian faith. He was appointed to the CRA board in late 2025. He has in the past openly voiced his presidential aspirations.
There has been a backlash in the aftermath of the arrest amid questions pointing to the irony of a cannabis industry board member being arrested for possession. Although reactions have been swift, they have been mixed, with most social media commenters expressing support for Chirwa on account of his Rastafari background.
Most Malawian pundits are of the view that Chirwa is entitled to possess and use cannabis because he is a practising Rastafarian. However, others say no-one is above the law and Chirwa should face his fate.
Malawi legislated for medicinal, industrial and scientific cannabis use in terms of the Cannabis Regulation Act No. 6 of 2020 that decriminalised cannabis (including C. sativa, C. indica, and C. ruderalis). Recreational and adult use remain criminalised.
Chirwa’s inclusion on the CRA board was seen as bringing stakeholder expertise to the table with many seeing his high-level involvement on the government body as a potential sign of government’s open-mindedness to the topic of probable future recreational decriminalisation.
Malawi CRA marketing manager and spokesperson Fanny Namonde told Cannabiz Africa that the matter had not been brought to her attention when contacted for comment.
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