Ganja grower who had 42 plants gets suspended six-month sentence
Michael John Ramos, 37, was sentenced in the Cayman Islands to six months in prison, suspended for two years, after admitting he cultivated 42 ganja plants at a premises in Prospect, Grand Cayman. He had been charged in 2017 with cultivation, possession with intent to supply, simple possession and consumption, and the court ordered the plants forfeited and destroyed.
Michael John Ramos, 37, previously pleaded guilty and the court ordered a social
inquiry report before sentencing.[1]He was sentenced on Wednesday to six
months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.[1]Magistrate Grace Donalds
imposed the six-month term for cultivating ganja without being authorized to do
so.[1]Defence attorney Jonathon Hughes said Ramos had wanted the ganja for
medicinal purposes; he had since seen a doctor and sought a legal remedy for his
condition.[1]The social inquiry report described him as a dedicated, hard
worker and a responsible provider for his children.[1]
The charge concerned 42 ganja trees at a premises in Prospect, Grand Cayman.[2]Ramos was charged with cultivating the trees on 27 April 2017.[2]He also
faced charges of possession of ganja with intent to supply, simple possession
and consumption.[2]At his first appearance, Magistrate Angelyn Hernandez read
the Crown’s summary of the allegations.[2]Ramos did not say anything, and the
magistrate appointed Jonathon Hughes as duty counsel to assist him.[2]The
magistrate set the matter for mention again on 8 August 2017, and bail
conditions included surrender of his passport, a $1,500 local surety and
reporting to George Town Police Station twice a week.[2]The summary said the
defendant seemed to believe ganja was going to be legal soon and would need a
large amount to produce oil for his personal use.[2]
He had a suspended sentence for a previous offence, and Hughes asked that it not
be activated; Donalds agreed because the previous offence was of a different
nature.[1]For possession and consumption, she imposed concurrent sentences of
three and two months.[1]At the Crown’s request, she ordered the ganja and
ganja trees forfeited and destroyed.[1]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
Charged
1
Plants destroyed
42
Prison
6 months, suspended for two years
Agencies
Summary Court; Crown
Agency type
Court, Prosecutor
Cannabis
Living plants (42 plants); Herbal cannabis
Activity
Cultivation, Possession, Sale, Use
Setting
Home
Charges
cultivating a controlled drug without being authorized to do so; possession of ganja with intent to supply; simple possession; consumption
The sentencing report gives only 'Wednesday' for the hearing; 31 January 2018 is the Wednesday before its 1 February publication.
The report does not say what happened to the possession-with-intent-to-supply charge; the sentencing covers only cultivation, possession and consumption.
It is not stated whether the concurrent three- and two-month terms for possession and consumption were also suspended.
No weight was published for the dried ganja in the case; the 42 plants are counted from the charge and the forfeiture order.
The report does not say when the 42 plants were seized; 27 April 2017 is the date of cultivation charged.
The earlier offence behind Ramos's suspended sentence is not described.
No later report says whether the two-year suspension was breached or the sentence activated.
The account rests on two reports by the same newspaper and author; no second outlet was found.
American model Gigi Hadid, 28, and Leah McCarthy were arrested after their luggage was searched on arrival by private jet in the Cayman Islands on 10 July 2023. They pleaded guilty in the summary court two days later, were fined 1,000 Cayman Islands dollars and had no conviction recorded.
Former Customs and Border Control officer Edree Fisher was sentenced on 18 January 2023 to 18 months for conspiring to import ganja through Owen Roberts International Airport, half of it suspended, leaving nine months to serve. She was charged over 6.48 pounds found on a fifth smuggling attempt, and the judge said she abused her position to steer the drugs through customs.
Arrested 1Charged 1Prison 9 months, half of an 18-month term suspended
Toni Lee Danso, a Canadian visitor, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to importing 18 pounds of ganja through Owen Roberts International Airport. Customs and Border Control officers found 18 heat-sealed packages hidden under a false bottom in her suitcase after she arrived from Toronto on 10 February 2022.
Xavier Shane Watson and Malson Campbell were jailed for 30 and 28 months after pleading guilty to importing 810 pounds of ganja plus cannabis oil and resin by boat off Grand Cayman. Police intercepted the vessel 11.5 nautical miles out on 18 March 2019 and valued the ganja at CI$939,000.
