By Alric Lindsay
In a pair of similar cases heard in the Summary Court today, January 19, 2026, two visitors from the United States were granted absolute discharges without convictions for importing small quantities of THC-infused gummies. The Chief Magistrate reached her decisions after noting “extenuating circumstances” in each case.
The first case involved Stephen Brandon O’Daniel, a 47-year-old distiller from Kentucky, who arrived at Owen Roberts International Airport on January 13, 2026, via a Delta flight from Atlanta. Customs officers searched his backpack and discovered a clear ziplock bag containing 19 gummies—10 red and 9 blue. Forensic analysis confirmed the presence of Delta-9 THC, a cannabis component, with a total weight of 66.6 grams.
O’Daniel’s attorney, Lauren Miranda, explained in court that O’Daniel suffered from stress-induced insomnia and used the gummies as a sleeping aid. She added that no prescription is required in Kentucky where O’Daniel is from.
Miranda emphasized O’Daniel’s outstanding prior good character, noting his tenure with Constellation Brands and his role in the Cayman Cookout event, where he conducted local staff training and on-site activities. Miranda added that a conviction could jeopardize O’Daniel’s employment, impact his international travel for work, and affect his family. Accordingly, Miranda asked that no conviction be recorded.
After hearing from legal counsels, the Chief Magistrate declared that there were extenuating circumstances in O’Daniel’s case. The Chief Magistrate gave O’Daniel an absolute discharge with no conviction recorded, but ordered him to pay $1,000 in costs to the Crown or spend 10 days in prison in default of payment.
In the second case, 23-year-old “Nissin Michan” arrived at the same airport on January 15, 2026, from New York. Upon completion of a search, Customs & Border Control officers discovered a blue vape pen and 4 ½ gummies containing THC and CBD. The items weighed 17.8 grams (0.63 ounces).
In court, the Chief Magistrate remarked that the charge prepared by the prosecution was “vague” and did not refer to gummies. In addition, the man was only charged the man for the gummies and not the vape pen. In the circumstances, the prosecution sought to amend the particulars of the charges.
After pleading guilty to the gummy charge, his attorney Oliver Grimwood noted that his client used the items to manage severe pain from celiac disease, triggered by gluten cross-contamination during travel. He carries them routinely in his work bag as a precaution, given his marketing job involving frequent trips. Grimwood highlighted his client’s full cooperation with customs, immediate admissions in interviews, and lack of prior offenses. The gummies amounted to roughly one per day for his short stay, stored alongside other medications.
The Chief Magistrate noted Michan’s youth, good character, and the medicinal purpose, as well as the disruption to his family vacation. He was granted an absolute discharge with no conviction and ordered to pay approximately $800 in costs, covering prosecution and analysis fees.
