Renowned American model Gigi Hadid encountered legal trouble during her recent trip to the Cayman Islands earlier this month after being arrested due to posession of marijuana, according to local news outlet Cayman Marl Road.
As per the statement issued by the Cayman Islands' Customs & Border Control, both Gigi Hadid, 28 years old, and her friend Leah McCarthy appeared in court on July 12.
"The Cayman Islands Customs and Border Control confirms the arrests of two American nationals, Jelena Noura Hadid and Leah Nicole McCarthy for the importation of marijuana and importation of utensils used for the consumption of marijuana, on 10 July 2023," the statement read.
They were fined $1,000 or approximately P54,000 for possessing cannabis.
But no conviction was recorded in relation to this incident.
"Both parties appeared in Summary Court on 12 July and were charged with the importation of a controlled drug and the importation of a drug utensil. They entered guilty pleas and were fined CI $1,000.00 and no conviction was recorded," it added.
Addressing the situation, Gigi Hadid's representative clarified that the marijuana was legally purchased in New York with a valid medical license.
He emphasized that medical marijuana has been legal in Grand Cayman since 2017.
The representative reassured her fans that Gigi's record remains clear, and despite the unfortunate incident, she continues to enjoy her time on the island.
"Gigi was traveling with marijuana purchased legally in NYC with a medical license. It has also been legal for medical use in Grand Cayman since 2017. Her record remains clear and she enjoyed the rest of her time on the island.," her rep tells international news outllet E! News.
It's important to note that while the Cayman Islands legalized medical marijuana in May 2017, recreational use of the substance remains prohibited. Under local laws, possession of up to 12 grams of marijuana for a first offense can lead to a prison sentence of up to a year and/or a fine.
Meanwhile, Gigi Hadid took to social media, particularly Instagram, to share photos of her vacation in the Cayman Islands with caption, "All's well that ends well," even after news of her arrest became public.
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