Timothy Duckitt walked out of the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court on a high note after learning that charges of dealing in cannabis were not going to be entered onto the court roll.  The 33 year-old had been arrested by police at the club’s premises in Brighton Road, Windsor Park during a raid last weekend which was recorded and went viral on social media.

IOL reports that Duckitt’s lawyer, Wildre Fourie, said his client had a permit displayed on the front of his shop ‘showing that he is allowed to cultivate the herb’. Police had ignored this, seized the cannabis in the shop – and the ‘permit’ – and took them off in a Shoprite plastic bag.

Fourie said that he approached prosecutors at the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court and found they were reluctant to pursue the matter because they “had too many queries on the docket during the screening process”.

He told IOL: “I also brought the permit to show it again, but they informed me there were too many queries, so until they have clarity, they won’t put it on the court roll. I am relieved and so is my client.”

An overjoyed Duckitt said he was happy to be home, surrounded by his children and wife.

“I am a family man, I am no troublemaker and this shows.

“I am just so thankful to everyone who stood by me and supported me. This weekend served as a reminder that I have people supporting me, as bizarre as it was, I took something away from it.”

The emergence of cannabis clubs has seen several open across the metro in recent months, including in Durbanville and Sea Point.

Duckitt said he had no doubt that he would walk out a free man and would be hosting an Open Day this weekend for everyone, including non-members, who showed their support.“This showed how the cannabis community can stand together, we are all on a high after this.”

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