Jordan Marshall, 29, of The Morne St. Joseph, has been ordered by the court to pay $7,500.00 following his guilty plea to cultivation of 1,352 plants of cannabis.
Marshall appeared in court along with his brothers Shanly Marshall and Linson Marshall who were all jointly charged however the two others pleaded not guilty to the charge.
According to the facts of the case, on February 9, 2022, Constable Lambert Hilaire of the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF) applied for and obtained a search warrant to search the premises of Lipson Marshall, where Jordan Marshall of The Morne St. Joseph resides, for Cannabis.
The following day at 4:30 a.m., members of the Drug Squad and Task Force including Constable Hilaire, dressed in Battle Dress Uniform (BDU), adequately equipped themselves with service pistols and rifles and they all left Police Headquarters to execute the warrant.
On arrival at The Morne in St. Joseph, the officers approached the premises and met Linson, standing on the entrance steps. Constable Hilaire identified himself to Linson and informed him of the search warrant. The Officers then entered the building via the front door of the ground and top floor to ensure that the building was cleared. Whilst doing so, Jordan and Shanly were met on separate floors and Constable Hilaire again informed them of his intent to search the premises and showed them the search warrant.
In the presence of the defendants, Constable Hilaire commenced searching room one on the ground floor and noticed what appeared to be an indoor nursery of Cannabis. The Constable further noticed three wooden stands containing fifteen black seedling trays which were electrically wired and partially covered with clear plastic and what appeared to be cannabis plants in each stand.
The constable also noticed what appeared to be a mist blower which at the time was functioning and keeping the plants fresh by the steam vapor.
The search continued in room number two and the Constable noticed one stand containing eight trays which was electrically wired and partially covered with clear plastic and what appeared to be more cannabis plants in each tray.
On the northern side of the premises Constable Hilaire also saw more cannabis being cultivated with lights which were sourced from the house via solar panels to give light to the cultivation.
In the presence of the defendants, Constable Hilaire uprooted the cultivation of cannabis which amounted to one hundred and thirty (130) plants and randomly took seven plants and placed them in an empty nylon bag.
The Officer then informed the men that it is an offense to cultivate more than three Cannabis plants and as a result they were arrested for this offense.
Jordan replied “all what that there is mines” and his brothers Shanly and Linson made no reply.
The 23 trays containing the alleged cannabis plants along with the seven plants which were placed in a nylon bag and the defendants were transported to Police Headquarters.
At the Drug Squad Office, in the defendants’ presence, Constable Hilaire counted the alleged cannabis plants in the trays which amounted to 1,222 plants.
Later that day, some samples were sent to the Government analyst for testing and tested positive for cannabis.
The Marshall brothers were formally charged for cultivation of cannabis which the police said amounted to 72.75 pounds.
At the court hearing, Defense attorney, Gina Abraham-Thomas who represented the accused disputed the police claims that the drugs weighed 72.75 pounds as she said the cannabis plants were never weighed.
She further told the court that Jordan was a father of a 3 and a 9-year-old and had no previous convictions.
Abraham-Thomas further stated, due to incidents which occurred in 2018, 2019, and 2022, Jordan was left disabled now has “iron in his legs and from time to time suffers from pain.”
“His disability prevents him from being gainfully employed,” she said. But in response Magistrate Michael Laduat cautioned that one’s [physical condition] should not be an excuse for them breaking the law.
The attorney further pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as according to her, “at 29, this gentleman has had his fair share of challenges and setbacks. He is remorseful for having found himself in such a situation.”
The penalty for cultivation of cannabis is a fine of $100,000.00 or three times the street value or three months in prison.
In handing down his sentence, Magistrate Michael Laudat said he must deviate from the sentencing guideline as the prosecution had not presented the accurate weight of the drugs to the court.
He said he had taken into consideration the defendant’s family ties, his age and his disposition, the public’s interest in the matter as well as the fact that Jordan pleaded guilty to the offense at the first opportunity not wasting the court’s time.
He was then fined $7,500.00 in three part payment of $1,500.00 by June 30, 2022, $2,000.00 by December 31, 2022 and $4,000.00 by October 31, 2023.
If he fails to make any payment he will be imprisoned for six months.
The prosecution offered no evidence against Shanly and Linson hence their cases were dismissed.
I am not sure what the weigh of a cannabis plant has to do with anything since the plant is only good for producing the buds. Without the buds the plant is effective useless in terms of THC content.
Many of our regional counterparts are creating opportunities for the marketing of this herb. Most recently St. Vincent. It is high time that the status quo engage individuals like our Dominican born Dr. Emmanuel to plan and provide a strategy for its use which is currently bringing in millions to the coffers of so many countries. Provide an opportunity for the farmers to move away from the hardships they are now experiencing and conduct a structured approach to this new income earner.
Like it or not they will soon have to follow the directions of our regional neighbors. In this day and age it is hypocritical to charge any individual for planting this herb and it would be more beneficial to provide conditions in which they can support and thrive by utilizing the land as an income earner. Educate the citizens on the benefits that can be derived from its use especially the law makers and health providers. I have never seen it or used it but read extensively about its many benefits.
Did u say Dr Emanuel? Even this is politically charged so check his political affiliations. I support many things Skeritt gets done, but that’s a very bad way to go about this when he knows marijuana and alcohol are here to stay and others are cashing in. Even when they told us to make it illegal and jail or folks for them, it never went away as more and more people smoked it. When Passports stop selling what have we developed to fall back on?
I’m not commending law breaking in any form not even by the government and it’s operatives. However after talking about getting Dominca to be positioned to take advantage of the worldwide market and demand for marijuana and it’s byproducts what has this government done besides talk. St Vincent has already exported and is taking advantage of opportunities. It’s time to stop the talk and do the necessary things to capitalize on the cannabis industry. Had that been done maybe this young man would be taking his earnings to the bank rather than facing jail time. Labor party doesn’t care about poor people’s children.
Bush weed!! Whats the point of growing that sh..?
I know, he THC level is low but it’s better to grow what you consume. Is just the gov’t to get out of the way and make it legal, facilitate the business environment to boost the agricultural economy exponentially.
Admin,TT did not say it was your ads,he is right.The M16,M4 carbine,
45 pistols,M60 machine guns,.38 revolvers were all supplied to the police by the USA.The people grew marijuana in Neba,Carholm,Atlee,Grosmorne,More Cannot.Are Cool In large quantities and has never been harassed by the police.That is a SELLOUT by Marshall own people.The Marshall’s are good people,but the law is the law.I agree the law is for one set of people,so to is everything in Dominica.
Nonsense laws! Canada literally has a booming business with Jamaica they are supplying Canada with cannabis ,companies going down to Jamaica to setup business and employ the locals yet Dominica sitting on their butt with 3 plants.
I cannot stand them criminal lawyers .. So a man have 2 children means what ? .He shouldn’t break the law period ! . Using his disability and children is a poor excuse to break the law . That is sh.. . Stop representing man who obviously broke the law .
The governments last manifesto is plastered with plans for cannabis, why is this still happening in Dominica when other OECS countries are EXPORTING CANNABIS! I HIGHLY CONDEMN THIS. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO CHANGE THIS DRACONIAN LAW NOW!
They still jailing their people for marijuana?
A racist law to jail black people all setup by racists in America to achieve one outcome only: incarceration and imprisonment of Blacks. – by the 1960’s, 200k Blacks were in prison for weed, today over 1 million Blacks in prison for small amounts of weed – it achieved its purpose. So America, not the feds, individual states have begun making it legal as it was originally. When initiated as a 1930’s Jim Crow law to jail the 2 groups that used it, only Blacks and Mexicans smoked it. 1 million imprisoned in the U.S alone, now add the multiplier effect after they took it to the U.N and had all countries sign up in exchange for continued *aid*, you do the math. Now you can begin to see the numbers of Black people they have our Police imprison globally for a racist law that our police participate in to put away their own people.
Before you comment do a simple Google search on the kkk person Harry Anslinger.
What is up with all these damn ads???
What is wrong with this dumb policy makers. The country the created the war on drugs same country that killed the banana industry. Same country that blacklist us every chance they get. Same one supplying the guns…. Same one dividing us and Same one who making hundreds of millions in Marijuana. It’s legal for them but we here prosecuting a guy for 1000 plants. Man’s got to eat. Open the vibes right up!!
ADMIN: Which ads are you referring to or did you mean something else?
Maybe just needs to go into the browser settings and clear the cache & data. I used to get them.
The law is the law. Just because one set get away doesn’t mean all should. They know it illegal. They know they not in high position but then having over 1000 plants in bold possession like they untouchable. People like that, is fine they were looking for in the first place. He even lucky is that alone they charge him.
Most Dominicans struggling in this hard country day-to-day but instead of breaking the law they finding honest legal work to do. This backwards mentality of “Well X doing bad so I can do bad too” needs to stop.
There was a time when slavery was “legal” imagine that. At some point you could own another human being and that was legal but in 2022 we arresting people for a plant
So Skerrit, Blackmore and the Eyes Have it clappers rushed to parliament to legalize 3 trees of Marijuana per person or household but it did not seem they did their home work man? So if I have my 3 trees of Marijuana planted like Skerrit said he has and I only cut leaves for my marijuana high or tea, and each tree makes about 500 seeds total of 1500 seeds and those 1500 seeds fall on the ground and make plants all over the place like we see with peas or any other plants, are they going to charge me for those plants I never touched, never transferred or fertilized? Man you guys must count the cost and stop rushing to parliament to make things law without thinking it through. Is either you fully legalize marijuana or leave it I legalized. You can’t legalize 3 plants and charge people for trying to make a living. My sister is a born again Christian but she just bought her three plants
Doh worry them in high position. Asking good use of the Marijuana.. so they collecting and charging people is a press..they taking it to do their exporting underneath..is so they preeesing the poor. I know how to do my vibes came.. not me they catching..get smart. We need a.marijuanna factory here and let’s get to the business of making meds for our sickly. Stop introducing jabs and lets role…let our herbalist get some work man smh.
I believe this country needs something to bost the economy….nothing is working in this country….if u look good….d president belly fat and overweight and all them ministry round like a barrel looking nice.. shining….all other people guawaying….what else to do than grow your grass….nature island…time 4 us to sell our nature island grass
It’s way past time that these draconian laws and nonsense stop…the law makers and those worthless policemen need to stop wasting people time and victimising the citizenry for Marijuana..a natrual plant.!most major countries have decriminalized marijuana and are even profiting from its cultivation..(billion dollar industry in the US)..this is ridiculous now..so meny wrongs and ills in d.ca society, especially from the top and they turn a blind eye.yet they’re quick to pounce on the poor and those struggling to make ends meet, only to justify their existence and paycheck…do some real police work!!!..investigate the corruption in dominica from the top..
Shame on us in this country. I am still hopeful that there will be a time when people realize that the problem is not cannabis/Marijuana but the problem is the lack of awareness that we have on the true benefits of the herb. Keep targeting those who are doing no harm while casting a blind eye to those who are actually destroying the youth and the environment. Jah never sleeps and you cannot keep a good man down
Provide employment for the young men. There should be a marijuana processing plant on island and shipment if the byproduct to pharmaceutical companies. This young man sounds like a scientist. He has a skill that should be cultivated. Pun intended
Country,I understand you but society can make you and break you.Not because DE big man do something you have to do it,he already big.He have big car,big house,big bank account.When he have party he killing a whole cow,you cannot even buy two moweng.That is life.Just look at how they dacallay Ferreira house in Roseau nobody doe pay.You have a point,the law is for one set of man.Doe never say Mr do it I can dot it to because when DE man go free your A is Grass.Look at a little example,it have man that never learn to drive and dey have licence,and some man have to gwayae for it.Life is unfair.
God created man and they naked.Why don’t you walk naked in Couborie,Up the more,Jouden,Autrobando and Backstreet?The Marshall family are very good people and a friend of the police especially papa Achilles Marshall.I feel sorry,and which Magistrate Laudat would make him pay a fine of $2,500.
Lin Clown when God created Adam and Eve, He caused them to remain spirit people dressed in His Light of Love, they didn’t not see themselves without physical clothing–what we call naked, until Lucifer the evil angel lied to Eve and she believed him. That was when they lost their likeness of God in Love, as His Image in them became tainted. We all inherited that disgraceful curse from them.
Lucifer himself, was an angel, but with a wicked and evil heart that is why he placed himself in a serpent–the image through which Eve could not recognize him, as he conducted his evil and disgusting sin with her, to rebel against the Holy God of Love. That was a grand mistake!
@ Elizabeth please go to bed because up to this day you keep condoning the evils of Skerrit as if you are the Lucifer you referenced. Go to bed lady
I don’t want some of what u been smoking, I know it’s not weed.
Is there allu strong. So all can have all share. Smh. Is one time all quick Is where drugs is concern. Stupes..give dem fellas there plant eh. I well want to buy to make my Marijuana oil for cancer patients.
The law is for only one set. What about those big drug dealers that are good friends with the politicians, aren’t they breaking the law too? A man trying to seek survival using something that God made and you all are arresting and charging him?
so God put marijuana on earth as a plant and all u charging man for gods creation?? chupes tan pure foolishness