Gig Hadid Charged with Possession of Cannabis

Hadid was arrested on July 10 along with her friend Leah Nicole McCarthy after they arrived from New York City, according to officials with the Cayman Islands Customs & Border Control. 

"During the search of their luggage, ganja and utensils used for the consumption of ganja were found in the luggage of both passengers," according to a report. "The quantities were relatively small and were seemingly for personal consumption."

The two women were arrested and taken to a detention centre, where they were released on bail. 

Two days later, the pair were charged with "importation of ganja and utensils used for the consumption of ganja." They later appeared before a court, where they pleaded guilty and agreed to pay a fine of $1,000. After which, they were released with a clean record.

Hadid's representative, Ronde Coletta, told the media that the supermodel had purchased the cannabis on a medical recommendation and noted that the medicinal use of cannabis has been legal in Grand Cayman since 2017.

Cannabis Policy In The Cayman Islands

In 2021, cannabis activists in the Cayman Islands began collecting signatures for a voter initiative to decriminalise marijuana. If adopted, the proposal would also expunge the records of people convicted of using or possessing small amounts of cannabis.

Last year the Cayman Islands Parliament voted to hold a referendum that would see small amounts of cannabis decriminalised. Suppose either reform is voted into law. In that case, the Cayman Islands island nation will join other Caribbean regions decriminalising cannabis, including Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

It has been said that the proposal was drafted to address the disproportionate impact cannabis prohibition has on the islands' young adults, a majority of which live in lower-income communities. It's a burden for them to get a criminal record that will stop them from obtaining future employment or travelling for school, university, or trade qualifications.

Whilst citizens of both affluent and lower-income neighbourhoods use drugs, the arrest rates of low-income residents are much higher. One reason for this is that you're less likely to see police patrols in a gated community than in a lower-income district with higher crime rates and greater police surveillance.

In 2022 police arrested 154 people for drug-related crimes. The island nation has a population of around 80,000 residents. Most cannabis-related arrests were for possession. Out of those, only three people were arrested for importing cannabis, which is the charge incurred by Hadid and her friend.