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By Alric Lindsay
Eric Fisher Jefson, a 30-year-old visitor from Boston, Massachusetts, appeared in the Summary Court this week to face a charge of importation of 20 gummies containing less than 2 ounces of cannabinol derivatives. He pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 or serve 10 weeks in prison in default of payment.
Background
According to crown counsel from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the man arrived in the Cayman Islands on a Jet Blue flight from New York on January 4, 2025.
Upon searching his luggage at the Owen Roberts International Airport, Customs & Border Control officers found a prescription bottle containing ten red and orange gummies.
He was arrested, at which time he explained that he uses gummies for medicinal purposes. However, he didn’t have a prescription for them because they are legal in Massachusetts, where he is a computer science student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Sentencing
Arguing on his behalf, defence counsel Jonathon Hughes re-emphasized that gummies are legal in Massachusetts. He referred to such usage as being “destigmatized” because of its widespread and common use.
Notwithstanding this, Hughes said the man expressed remorse for importing the items into the Cayman Islands and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.
Given the foregoing, Hughes asked the Summary Court to consider not recording a conviction.
After hearing from defence and crown counsels and reviewing the character references submitted to the Summary Court on the man’s behalf, the Chief Magistrate noted that he was an exceptional young man with bright prospects.
The Chief Magistrate added that no real justice would be done if the Summary Court recorded a conviction to impede his future in any way.
The Chief Magistrate concluded that there were exceptional circumstances in this case and ordered an unconditional discharge. The drugs were also ordered to be forfeited and destroyed.
