Man accused of ‘Ganja’ cultivation pleads ‘guilty with a cause’
Thomas was charged, together with Wilbert Pickering, for the possession of 10.37 grams of Cannabis, a controlled drug as occasioned on June 26, 2015. The second charge was the cultivation of. 610 seedling cannabis plants as occasioned on June 27, 2015. Both incidents occurred at Parham Town, on the main island of Tortola.
Responding to Thomas' reply of "guilty with a cause", presiding magistrate Ms Ayana Dabreo- Baptiste responded, "I don't know of any cause exempted under the law in the BVI."
However, following consultation with his Attorney Ruthilia Maximea, Thomas pleaded 'Guilty' as the charges were re-read to him.
As it relates to his co-accused, Pickering, the court heard that based on the testimony of one Dr Turner, he was found not fitting to plea. The court also heard that the prosecution intends to take a certain course of action at the next date the matter will be heard again.
The case will be called again on September 22, 2016 for mitigation and sentencing.
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9 Responses to “Man accused of ‘Ganja’ cultivation pleads ‘guilty with a cause’”
During hearings on marijuana law in the 1930’s, claims were made about marijuana’s ability to cause men of color to become violent and solicit sex from white women. This imagery became the backdrop for the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 which effectively banned its use and sales.
The demonization of the cannabis plant was an extension of the demonization of the Mexican immigrants. The idea was to have an excuse to search, detain and deport Mexican immigrants.