Ex-Bison playing in NFL busted for cannabis

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This article was published 07/02/2019 (2684 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

New Orleans Saints defensive lineman and former University of Manitoba Bison David Onyemata was issued a misdemeanour citation Thursday for illegal possession of marijuana found at his apartment.

According to Capt. Jason Rivarde from the Jefferson Parish sheriff’s office, Onyemata’s residence was raided by police on Jan. 29. The search warrant was obtained following a tip to a narcotics investigator that “a quantity of marijuana products” could be found in Oneyamata’s apartment in Elmwood, a suburb located about 22 kilometres west of downtown New Orleans.

Marijuana, cannabis oil, marijuana edibles and hemp powder were all discovered during the search – all of which is believed to be for Onyemata’s personal use, according to Rivarde – with police noting that Onyemata provided his full cooperation in the operation. He was given a summons to appear in court at an undisclosed date.

Authorities have yet to decide whether they’ll pursue further criminal charges against Onyemata; misdemeanour marijuana possession convictions can range from short jail sentences to fines as high as US$500.

By comparison, in Canada Onyemata would never have been the subject of such aggressive police tactics, since marijuana is legal in the country. The Canadian Football League has also been liberal in its approach to the drug, including turning a blind eye on former players who have faced similar charges.

Duron Carter, while a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, was busted not once but twice by Canadian airport security trying to board a plane with cannabis. Still, Carter went unpunished by the league and remains eligible to play in the CFL.

As for Onyemata, who was born in Lagos, Nigeria before moving to Manitoba in 2011 to attend school, played for the University of Manitoba Bisons and, in 2015, was named the J. P. Metras Trophy – awarded to  the top down lineman in Canadian university football. He’s entering his final year of his rookie contract with the Saints. A fourth-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft, the 26-year-old has seen his role on the Saints’ defensive line increase in recent years, including playing 60 per cent of the club’s snaps in 2018.

Onyemata’s CFL rights are owned by the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who selected him in the fourth round – 35th overall – in 2016. If Onyemata is destined to play in the CFL, he will have to report to the Roughriders, the only team able to sign him to a contract.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca twitter: @jeffkhamilton