“By the grace of God I must smoke!” is what a Salisbury man told a police officer who arrested and charged him for the possession of quantity of cannabis last Wednesday.
Jim James Vidal,who appeared before a Roseau Magistrate’s court this morning, was met by Constable B Felix who was investigating him for a theft matter on the said date at Car
holme, Salisbury.
Vidal was arrested on suspicion of theft and was searched by Constable Felix who found two clear plastic bags containing the drugs from a red and black bag.
When questioned about the substance, Vidal told the officer, “A little weed I have to smoke.”
He was then cautioned and arrested on suspicion of possession of cannabis. Vidal pleaded with the officer to give him a “break”.
“By the grace of God I must smoke. Just throw that away and give me a break,” he said.
During his plea of mitigation, the defendant vowed that he would never carry the illegal drug in the future. He also told Magistrate Gloria Augustus that he would not engage in selling the drug, but would only use a little for his personal consumption.
“When rain falling and it wet me I need something to warm me up. I doesn’t take it to sell … To free up myself. Is better than I go and trouble people children,” Vidal added.
Magistrate Augustus ordered the repeat offender to pay the fine of $300 by March 31, 2010 or face two months in prison.
“Do not walk with that and tell me about the grace of God, because you will pay for the grace of God every time,” she warned.
Respect James. I agree with you dread, we as educated free thinking individuals should by now have moved past those biased ignorant laws. Hemp could be used to make fiber, paper, animal feed, and not to mention it’s medicinal uses. Marijuana was made illegal to protect the US cotton, timber, and tobacco industries. To Insider, you sound like some self righteous idiot who has no personal experience at all with the drug and is just repeating some senseless dribble you’ve been feed. That remark that marijuana is a gateway drug is ridiculous. Anyone willing to experiment with marijuana, which is illegal, obviously is already inclined to experiment with illicit substances, regardless of what kinda high. Also what the hell does this case have anything at all to do with the guy punching the referee. You show your ignorance by assuming that drugs is the root to his aggression when anyone who smokes can attest to the fact that it mellows you out. A lack of control and discipline on the football field has nothing to do with WEED !!! So what the guy was being investigated for theft, his personal problems and issues could, and most definitely are, affected by more than just him smoking. People like you are the reason why our society decays, easily manipulated, ignorant and quick to assume and judge. I guess the brain drain that effects the entire caribbean has nothing to do with it huh. And to sad, yes all drugs are drugs but everything in moderation. Opiates are used in countless pain killers but too many will kill you. I’m a 20 year old whose now a student in the US and I’m equally proud to have been born and raised in Dominica, as well as being a smoker. I hope more of my generation move past rigid, ignorant, mustache pete’s like ya’ll who are so close minded. “By professing themselves to be wise, they proved they were fools.”
@THE INSIDER
Facts please, with articles and or links to scientific evidence to support your claims. Or you know what lets just forget that and lets just go with what the media tells us. Never do our own research or try to educate our own selves. Lets just stay in the darkness and be lead about like sheep by those who have the power.
After reading some of these comments I had to comment again
Dominican’s smoking weed is illegal for a reason…this is not a joke
And its not because the guy said something in court under his high to
believe he was being honest…I hope you confessed about the theft too
the marijuana is a gateway drug and it rotts the brains of young people…
most people who use marijuana usually at one point or another want a bigger high and then start using crack
young people will do anything when they are on drugs including stealing to sell and get cash to buy these drugs
Stop this foolishness and taking this a some joke and then turn around and wonder what’s happening to our youth.
Let’s stamp out all drugs that affect the behavior of our youths in a negative manner
Keep them out of your bodies for they do more harm than good!
INSIDER
u in no position to say anything about ganja u never try it thus there is no way u can say what it can and cannot do. I sure u can explain how u became happy and gay
Those people who are asking or the man to be left alone deserve to take the gail for him
because they can’nt see any further than their tip of their noses
These same people will condemn violent behavior by a footballer but will hug some of the roots of such behavior by young people
I believe the sentences with regards to drugs should be steeper…remember what he was innitailly approached for…theft
He was met with a little splif eh…
Well by the grace of God…trust me…these rolle models should be used as examples to others.
Magestrates…dont go soft on drug dealers and pushers for these are the underlying causes of such a decaying society…think and keep them inside looking out for their so called little actions are having a serious impact on society
INSIDER
All drugs is drugs including weed, we as Dominicans should work to eradicate drugs entirely in our country, to many youths are hooked on these drugs, it starts with weed and then alcohol and then crake, its sad because we encourage it.
sad for u, see how u putt it back to front just like u
Let d man do his things i doe see y alu should tie him up because alu cannot tax d weed
I agree with the man. Let him smoke..he uses it as his get away. rather a spliff by here n a blunt by dere dan d man go n do sumthing else.
lol they should realluy legalize di weed acording to queen ifrica.
LOL well that sure put a smile on my face for the morning thats to funny well i guess he gotta do wat he gotta do my boy was completely honest WOW
let the man smoke his weed, look for the cocaine instead.
Someone please educate me…why is marijuana illegal? just curious…
I’ve witnessed more people getting into trouble using alcohol and tobacco. How many fatal accidents have we heard of resulting from drunk driving?
my boy i support that. i especially like the part where he say he doin it to avoid a crime lol…respect…
Too Funny!! only someone who’s weeded would be making these statement to a judge. then again, at least he’s being honest.. lol…..
BTW, DNO, where do you guys get your pics? Dang!! And who’s the lucky guy who got to smoke weed legally on camera?!!….. hee hee heeee
PEACE!!!!
uh huh use God is ur nonsense still… good lluck bro!!
but a lady thanked god for her pastor after he confessed sexing a young woman
@ Mac-Arthur Haughton
I have seen a couple of yr other comments and let me just say im looking forward to more…not just wat u say is how u say it..nuff respect!!!!
Give the Man a break office, A lil Herd he have there to free up his meditation. The cocaine thar comin in on our shores y’all should he harrasing
The difficulty is that by association, people put cannabis smoking and illegal activity in the same boat. If only the people in the boat smoking cannabis could through the people involved in illegal activity over board.