Well respected local attorney at law Jamal S. Smith raised eyebrows in the High Court when he said the Virgin Islands (VI) has some of the highest grade of cannabis sativa in the world and this is why he is against the importation of the drug while being a proponent of its legalisation. Photo: VINO/File

He was speaking today May 2, 2016 during closing arguments for his client Wakeem Guishard in the trial for murder.

Guishard is charged jointly with Marcus Lloyd and Mitch Christopher in the murder of Daren Allan 'Tiger' Hodge who was riddled with bullets on September 10, 2010.

Weed not a drug?

Smith was recapping a statement by Lloyd who had said that "weed is not drugs," when asked whether 'Tiger' was a drug dealer.

Smith said he shared Lloyd's view about weed not being a drug.

He then went on to say that it is his opinion that cannabis be legalised and that persons should not be harassed for a ‘dime bag’.

Smith then caused the court to erupt in laughter when he said he is against the importation of the drug because the Virgin Islands has some of the “highest grade weed” in the world and this is why foreigners flock to these shores every New Year's Eve, "not just to hear Foxy Callwood play the guitar barefoot on the beach."

He said the importation of cannabis into the territory will hurt the economy of the Virgin Islands, seemingly to say that it would hurt the sale of local weed.

But Justice Vicki Ann Ellis was not amused by what she called a diversion by Smith, calling it completely unnecessary.

"It is not an opportunity to pontificate on your personal issues or make political statements," she said of Smith's closing arguments.

"I cannot tell you that this is proper. This is not appropriate. These paragraphs were not helpful to the jury," she said.