On Friday February 16, Vaudreuil-Soulanges resident Martin Michaud received a 12-month suspended sentence to be served at home on charges of growing, propagating and harvesting cannabis under the Cannabis Act. The man appeared before Judge Joey Dubois at the Valleyfield courthouse. 

The charges against him date back to May 31, 2023, according to the summary shared by the Crown prosecutor. On that date, Sûreté du Québec officers responded to an open fire in Très-Saint-Rédempteur. 

When they arrived, they discovered some 20 cannabis plants near the blaze, and evidence of cannabis cultivation on the windowsill of a nearby garage. At the time, Mr. Michaud told officers that the cannabis grown was for his personal consumption only. 

That same day, 31 plants were discovered outside. In the garage, 50 cannabis cuttings were found, for a total of 81 plants. 

In 2019, Martin Michaud was sentenced for his involvement in a similar case. The accused, who has worked in a Vaudreuil-Dorion business for five years, is represented by Me. Jacques Vinet. 

"If you come before me again, the Tribunal will be less lenient and a custodial sentence will have to be imposed. This is your third offense in a similar matter. How can I be sure that this time it will be the right one?The one that will ensure that I never see you in front of me again?" the judge asked the accused.

The latter assured him that he wanted to change his life and respect all the conditions attached to his 12-month suspended sentence.This means that for the next six months, he will have to be at home 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except Saturday afternoons from 1pm to 5pm, when he will be able to go shopping at the supermarket. After six months, for the remainder of his sentence, he will be subject to a curfew from 10pm to 7am.

In addition, for two years, he will have to comply with a number of conditions, including: keep the peace, be of good behavior, not possess or use cannabis except under medical prescription. He also agrees not to possess any prohibited weapons for 10 years, and not to possess any restricted weapons for life.