BVI News

Man fined $500 for 31 grams of cannabis

Not the marijuana mentioned in the story

A 29-year-old Jost Van Dyke man has been fined $500 after he was found with 31 grams of cannabis on Tortola.

Dwayne Donovan of Great Harbour was fined after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled drug in the Magistrate’s Court.

He has up to three months to pay the fine or, in default, he will spend 30 days at Her Majesty’s Prison, Magistrate Shawn Innocent ordered.

Facts

The court heard that on May 5, Donovan along with two other persons were travelling in a vehicle along the West End highway when they were pulled over by police in a random stop-and-search operation.

Nothing illegal was found on anyone. However, the drugs in question were found in a black backpack 0n the vehicle’s backseat.

Following the discovery, Donovan told police that the cannabis belonged to him.

“Officer that is my personal weed. I smoke because I have an injury,” he said.

Donovan was subsequently arrested and charged for the aforementioned offence.

Before the sentencing, Donovan’s attorney Patrick Thompson had told the court that his client had no previous convictions and did not waste the court’s time by entering an early guilty plea.

He then invited the court not to imprison his client.

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8 Comments

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  1. Sigh* says:

    Most reasonable fine ive seen for weed yet! there should be no jail time or police record involved!

    Like 16
    Dislike 1
  2. Reasonable says:

    For once a reasonable fine.

    Like 7
    Dislike 2
  3. Sigh* says:

    You talking to a street man, 28 grams in a ounce, if it was high grade herb, you looking a 500 – 550 per ounce, he had a little more than an ounce. I reiterate, more reasonable fine I’ve seen.

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
  4. my input says:

    Weed should become an offense where you can be issued a ticket for a set find. if found with an once or more see you in court.. a dime back in curt just causing a back log in the court system

    • Sigh* says:

      Like right there in the USVI a stones through away! $200 fine or ticket for up to an ounce of weed. If you’re to stupid to legalize and capitalize off the herb at the very least stop spending tax payers money to prosecute and incarcerating people!!!

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