Alric Lindsay 
By Alric Lindsay
A young man appeared in the Summary Court today, July 22, 2026, to face a charge of consumption of a controlled drug, being Ganja. The Chief Magistrate granted the man an absolute discharge, with no conviction recorded, on condition he pay $200 in costs to the Crown by July 31. Failing this, he will face two weeks in custody in default.
The court heard from defence counsel, Dennis Brady, that the offence arose from an incident on School Road, George Town, on September 26, 2025. Police, responding to an unconnected matter, observed a group of males.
Several of the males fled, and the man was found nearby, concealed between two buildings.
A search of the area where he had been detained turned up a glass jar containing a small quantity of Ganja, which the court heard gave officers grounds to request a specimen from him. Defence counsel said the man had been “entirely cooperative” and had provided samples that tested positive.
Defence counsel asked the court “to not record the conviction against this young man”, citing his secure employment and maturing character, and asked that he be permitted “to maintain a clean record” for future employment purposes.
The Chief Magistrate, addressing the man directly, warned him that cannabis available now was “not natural at all” and “quite potent”, and noted that the brain is not fully developed until around age 26, warning of the risk of “drug-related psychosis”.
Noting his guilty plea and that this was his first appearance, the Chief Magistrate said: “I’m giving you an absolute discharge with no conviction… because you’re young and you have potential.” She told him: “Don’t let me see you again… not in these courts.” The matter concluded with the costs order as stated.
