Marijuana planting electrician reprimanded and discharged

AN ELECTRICIAN, who told the police that he uses marijuana to nurse his back pain after sustaining a gunshot wound to his body, was reprimanded and discharged for cultivating the drug in his backyard.

Lenroy Caine, 35, of Clare Valley/Richland Park, appeared at the Serious Offences Court before Senior Magistrate, Colin John on October 15, 2024, where he was charged that on October 10, 2024 at Clare Valley, he did cultivate nine mature plants of the genus, cannabis. The facts are that at 11:50 a.m on the date in question, Sergeant Chandler and other police officers from the Narcotics Unit were in Kingstown conducting an investigation in relation to an ongoing matter involving Lenroy Caine of Clare Valley.

Caine was met in Kingstown. He was shown a search warrant that was also read to him, and he consented to a search. After arriving in Clare Valley, he pointed out a house to the officers. During a search of the house, Sergeant Chandler found a transparent zip-lock bag containing plant-like materials resembling cannabis. He showed this to Caine and pointed out the offence of possession of a controlled drug to him.

Chandler cautioned Caine, to which he replied: “Officer is ah small smoke”. The officer asked Caine if he had a medical problem, and a Medical Cannabis Patient ID Card, to which Caine responded, “Officer mi na ha a medical problem, but I suffer from back pain, ‘cos I did get shoot, and I smoke weed to ease the pain”.

He showed his Medical Cannabis Card to Sergeant Chandler who checked it, making note of the number.

Caine said that he buys weed from the pharmacy and from other people around. However, he was told by Chandler that being a holder of a medical patient ID Card does not grant him the privilege to buy from persons who are not certified. Chandler then asked Caine to accompany him to the back of the yard, where he saw plants resembling that of the genus, cannabis. He reminded Caine that he was still under caution, to which Caine replied: “Officer I plant few plants ‘cos the government say persons can plant, so I plant to smoke and sell”. The officer told Caine that the Medicinal ID Card does not grant him that right, and that it is an offence to cultivate.

Chandler then pointed out the offence of cultivation to him but Caine said nothing. The Police Sergeant uprooted nine mature cannabis plants in the presence of Caine and Police Constable Palmer. When Caine was shown the plants, he said, “give me a chance please”. Chandler informed him of his right to legal representation and Caine replied, “Officer once I know how much I have to pay, me go pay”.

He was arrested and taken to the Criminal Investigation Department along with the exhibits. Chandler was instructed not to charge Caine with the offence of loose plant materials resembling cannabis which amounted to 139 grammes. After the drugs were sampled, Caine was charged with the offence of cultivating nine mature plants of the genus cannabis. After the facts were read, Senior Magistrate John reprimanded and discharged Caine.