Tourist Fined $1,500: Cannabis Importation

July 4, 2011

David Wechsler, a 62-year-old American tourist was today [July 4] fined $1,500 for importing three grams of marijuana in five hand-rolled cigarettes through Bermuda’s L.F. Wade International airport on 28th June 2011.

After pleading guilty and hearing the details of the charge, Mr Wechsler told the Magistrate, “It was stupid of me. I should have behaved differently. I have always been a role model to my family…. I have been a leader in my community for many years.”

Mr Wechsler was required to pay the fine forthwith or face 30 days in jail in Bermuda.

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Comments (19)

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  1. Ganja mon says:

    MaryJ = relax mode
    Alcohol = Violent mode

    You chose which one to let into our Island?

    • My two cents says:

      Oh they have already chosen. Alcohol is encouraged and glorified in this country and alcohol sales keep growing as the retail sector struggles. It is a good business to be in in this tough economic time.

  2. You probably think I'm crazy says:

    I’m sick and tired of all these people getting fines and jail time for marijuana. Just legalize it and leave people alone for crying out loud.

  3. In Mark's opinion says:

    With these kind of fines , Bermuda Government is the Mr Big in the drug Business . To our Tourist , I would like you to visit , but our Government doesn’t want you to come and chill with a spilff in Bermuda , so help our vistor numbers to keep on dropping and visit Jamaica instead . Never seen anyone get violent on the herb .

  4. will says:

    well i hope he comes back. i love to see tourists who are here to relax instead of visit every bar and become drunken violent fools.
    Bermuda MUST change its laws regarding personal possession for the betterment of her people and our foreign guests.

    • Ganja mon says:

      lol now thats messed up, smfh

      • Mama Mia says:

        a role model to his family and a leader in the community? I guess this was pre- florida, October 2010?

  5. Terry says:

    Don’t know what planet you live on son. Guess you don’t travel the Universe much. Your last sentence sums up the hippocarcy of many that it is a calming drug.

    Tell that to thye guys and gals shot and stabbed each day so they can enjoy their moment.

    Then again, when your drunk thats a choice. When your high it’s an escape for you but thats another thread.

    Control.

    • My two cents says:

      @ Terry, I really thought you were smart enough to figure it out on your own. But I will work it out for you. The reason this happens
      “Tell that to thye guys and gals shot and stabbed each day so they can enjoy their moment.” is because marijuana is illegal. If it were legalized you would not see ANY of the crime associated with its black market status. I think MANY people don’t understand that all the harmful things that happen are only because of it being illegal.
      The only deaths from marijuana are the indirect results of illegality.
      Do you understand this? In contrast alcohol can actually kill you over time or even in one binge if the person drinks too much and that is legal and perfectly okay to do.

  6. Uncle Nick says:

    1,500 bucks for a few grams of natural grass. I wonder if people start smoking cedar trees will they make it illegal too.

    • will says:

      well people are starting to use nutmeg as a not so mild stimulant these days so guess thats goin to be illegal.

      Terry- people are shot and stabbed each day because of the hippocarcy(hypocrisy is the correct way) of government laws keeping a natural plant illegal. Im assuming you like to drink alcohol so what would be your stance on the prohibition of that? If i remember correctly that stupid law was repealed because people were making illegal profits and the death toll was mounting due to its illegal status…common sense prevailed, why can’t it today?

  7. Just Curious says:

    5 hard rolled = $1500, that would be how much the government would tax it if it was legal!

    Remember people it’s illegal if the government cannot tax it! think about it

    • Repeal Drug prohibition now! says:

      the best way to go about it would be to first allow people to grow their own thus saving millions on failing enforcement. secondly allow licensed growers to supply an already in place market ie retailers which the gov can reap tax from. In amsterdam the tax is 75%+ on every coffeeshop. no point in hiding from the truth, accept it

  8. Mama Mia says:

    If they legalize it, how will the guvmit collect their fines? through my duty tax on DVD’s at the airport customs?

  9. Notnice at all says:

    This is sad. WE are killing our own tourism and social status by worrying about small matters like this. IF they TRUELY WANT TO REVIVE TOURISM DECRIMINALIZE OR LEGALIZE WEED. 1. this will revitalize a dying industry, 2. It will create a new pillar of income for BERMUDA, 3. No one would be out of a job against their own will. WE WONT BE HAVING A RECCESSION at all if these politicians stop thinking so draconian and actually did something for the people that could benefit us all. Oh and for anyone reading this and thinking well if we do that we are going to attract all of the rif-raff to our island, just look at Amsterdam and you would notice some of the richest people in the world travel their just to smoke their weed. So for us to be an Island that has beautiful scenery, beaches, great weather and great food and legalized weed, their would be no place like Bermuda and EVERYONE WOULD WANT TO COME HERE. also They should make gambling legal too just as long as it is in a casino governed by strict rules like in LAS VEGAS OR ATLANTIC CITY.

  10. BombsAway says:

    He should visit St. Davids.

  11. Takbir Sharrieff says:

    Now that’s my Idea of irresponsibility….. promiscuity …permissiveness… licentious…. behaviour……anything goes..and everything Bermuda does not need along with the people who think like that….Thank goodness for Balanced responsible Right Minded Bermudians ….! Proud to be a Bermudian without that garbage. …!!!!.

  12. YES MATE! says:

    Should’ve brought bullets in instead!