48 years ago today, at the height of his career, legendary rock musician Jimi Hendrix started a year long trial for alleged drug posession.
On May 3, 1969, customs agents at Toronto International Airport detained legendary rock star Jimi Hendrix after finding a small amount of what they suspected to be heroin and hashish (cannabis) in his luggage.
Four hours later, after a laboratory stationed in the airport confirmed what had been found, he was formally charged with drug possession. This started a year long trial for the musician who was soon acquitted of all charges.
The incident proved stressful for Hendrix, and it weighed heavily on his mind during the seven months that he awaited trial. Two weeks after the arrest, he told his friend, journalist Sharon Lawrence, that his fear of needles discouraged him from using heroin and that associating with junkies had convinced him it was not a drug he wanted to use. One report even speculated that the drugs had been planted by a fan who became disgruntled after Hendrix refused his sexual advance. Two men from his entourage even stated that they believed the incident had been set up and that the drugs had been planted in Hendrix's bag.
Hendrix was soon acquitted from all the charges and released on $10,000 bail. This incident had a huge impact on the musician who later died a year after.
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