By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A 57-year-old man who was found with over four ounces of marijuana last week was yesterday ordered to pay $1,500 or spend eight months in prison.
Dwight Strachan was arrested after officers discovered $420 worth of Indian hemp in his home on April 3.
He pleaded guilty to one count of possession of dangerous drugs during his hearing before Senior Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans.
The court was told that sometime around 8:55 pm a team of officers, armed with a search warrant, went to a home in the Black Village area.
Upon arrival, officers informed the defendant of their search and began their investigation with the assistance of a police dog.
The prosecution said officers, while carrying out their duties, found a clear plastic bag containing a quantity of suspected marijuana.
The defendant was subsequently arrested and taken to a nearby station where he admitted the offence and claimed he had bought the drugs at Kemp Road for $200 for personal use.
During yesterday’s hearing, Strachan told the magistrate that he smokes marijuana occasionally for medicinal purposes, saying he uses it to help lower his blood pressure.
When asked by magistrate which doctor prescribed him the drug, the defendant claimed that a physician at Fleming Street told him he could boil marijuana to treat his blood pressure.
“I went to Fleming Street because I does have lil’ nausea and headaches and…he asks me if I does smoke and I told him ‘yeah’ and he say ‘boil some marijuana,’” he told the court.
In response, Magistrate Vogt-Evans asked him the doctor’s name. To which, he replied: “Dr Rolle.”
Magistrate Vogt-Evans said she found it unlikely that a registered physician would make such a recommendation to a patient at a government clinic.
She also told the court while she has heard marijuana has several medical benefits, it’s important for Bahamians to understand that use of the drug is still illegal in The Bahamas.
She also reminded him that legislation on marijuana reform has not yet been finalised despite discussions on the issue and advised him to follow the law until such changes are made.
Strachan was fined $1,500 or eight months behind bars.
Rudolph Russell, 19, also appeared in court on drug charges yesterday.
Russell pleaded guilty to one count of possession of dangerous drugs after he was found with three grams of marijuana in the area of Yamacraw Road on April 2.
When given the chance to speak, Russell admitted to smoking the drug for personal use and told the court he has been smoking marijuana for two years.
After accepting his guilty plea, Magistrate Vogt-Evans granted Russell a conditional discharge on the agreement that he would attend drug counselling.
She warned him that if he failed to comply with the conditions, he would be fined $500 or risk spending three months in jail.
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