By Alric Lindsay
Today, July 2, 2025, Spencer Graves and Toi Barnhardt, tourists from New Jersey who are in the Cayman Islands celebrating their honeymoon, appeared in the Summary Court to face a charge of importation of cannabinol derivatives in the form of 25 gummies. The Chief Magistrate fined the couple $1,000 and ordered an absolute discharge, with no conviction to be recorded.
Background
Regarding the background of the incident, Crown Counsel from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said the couple arrived at Owen Roberts International Airport on an American Airlines flight on June 26, 2025.
Customs & Border Control officers approached the couple, who were referred from the “Nothing to Declare” line.
Upon searching a brown Louis Vuitton duffel bag, CBC found three bottles containing a total of 25 gummies.
When asked about the gummies, it was explained that the couple used them for sleep, but forgot they were in the bag.
They were cautioned, arrested and taken to the Cayman Islands Detention Centre.
Reportedly, during the interview, Graves explained that he didn’t know cannabis extracts were illegal in the Cayman Islands. He added that he booked his flight through a third party agent and no one told him the gummies were illegal.
Sentencing
Arguing on the couple’s behalf, attorney John Furniss noted that Graves is 49 years old and works as a production manager for a charity. Barnhardt is 43 and works in marketing.
They booked the flight to Cayman using cash received as wedding gifts, and are not generally of high financial means. The attorney mentioned this because he was requesting a low financial penalty on behalf of the couple.
After hearing from counsels, the Chief Magistrate said:
Over and over again we have to deal with this situation and of course, over and over again it is this approach and view that if it’s legal in the US, it must be legal everywhere else.
That if we do it in the US, it must be OK everywhere else.
That not going to a Caribbean island, it must be OK.
Not saying that you thought of that, but these are just excuses that we’ve heard all the time.
The Chief Magistrate added:
It’s a sense of entitlement that comes unfortunately.
I would never dare think of traveling to your country without actually checking properly what I have.I know what would happen to me, so I really wish our visitors wish we welcome, would take more precaution.
The Chief Magistrate concluded:
In any event, we treat these matters with some degree of justice to match the offense itself.
And therefore I find that there are extenuating circumstances which requires that no conviction should be recorded.
So, it’s an absolute discharge for both of you and no conviction to be recorded.
The Chief Magistrate ordered that costs of $1,000 be paid to the Crown or serve 10 days in prison in default.
Note to readers
It is common for the Cayman courts to give tourists an absolute discharge and for no conviction to be recorded for this offence. Caymanians are viewed as having a higher respinsibility for knowing the law and, as such, do not get the same treatment as tourists. For a comparable case involving a Caymanian, please see the link below:
Caymanian Fined $500 For Importation Of 30 Gummies. Court Indicates That A Higher Responsibility Is Placed On Caymanians To Know The Law.
