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Did you smoke weed in the country and fly to Dubai?
You may be imprisoned
An American businessman who legally smoked marijuana in Las Vegas, flew to Dubai, needed urgent medical attention, had a urine test - and was jailed after the test results arrived
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Monday, 12 April 2021, 08:43 Updated: 09:22
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American detained in Dubai after smoking weed in Nevada (Photo: detained in Dubai)
Peter Clark, an American businessman who came to Dubai as part of his job, faces up to three years in prison for drug use after remnants of the substance appeared in tests he conducted at a hospital.
This is after he needed emergency treatment, due to pancreatitis.
Clark is a 51-year-old computer game creator who retired from his job as an employee and became a businessman.
He has previously worked for companies such as Xbox and Playstation.
He traveled to Dubai as part of work on a new project in which he is involved, with the aim of locating a recording studio.
Clark stayed in Dubai for only one day, before having to go to the hospital due to an outbreak of inflammation.
The SUN reports that under Dubai law, the health care system must report to the police any illegal material detected during tests.
However, Clark claimed he smoked the marijuana while in Las Vegas, where it is considered legal.
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Faces a 3-year prison sentence in Dubai, for drug use.
Clark (from a video he uploaded to the web) (Photo: Screenshot, Screenshot)
"The visit became a nightmare"
He was arrested after the drug was found in his urine, and held in jail for three days, before being released to quarantine at the hotel.
He is now awaiting the decision of the prosecution in his case.
"I was completely overwhelmed by the fact that I was charged with the remains of marijuana in my body. I smoked it legally while in the United States, long before I even got on the plane," he told reporters.
"I am well aware of Dubai's strict drug laws, but I never thought that anything I did legally in my own country would lead to my arrest."
It was further reported that during his detention, Clark contracted an infection, at the site where an infusion was injected while he was being examined at the hospital.
He said the guards did not agree to give him the antibiotics prescribed for him.
Now, Clark cannot go beyond the borders of the country, and must remain in Dubai until his sentence is upheld.
The guards did not give him his antibiotics.
Dubai Police Station, where Clark is being held (Photo: screenshot, Facebook)
"Corrupt informants working with police"
"The visit became a nightmare, and I have no idea how going to the hospital brought with it a possible prison sentence," he adds.
Clark's story reached a seasoned aid group called Detained in Dubai ("Detained in Dubai").
Its purpose is to help tourists who break the strict rules in the UAE.
Aid group founder Radha Sterling says "the UAE's arbitrary enforcement in terms of laws and lack of predictable legal results means Peter faces years in prison for legal marijuana smoking."
She adds that "even if it is decided that he is innocent, Clark may be dragged into an expensive and slow legal process."
She said, "Corrupt informants who work with the police are using the lawsuit to 'upgrade' charges, from possession to drug trafficking."
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