Hard times force man to grow own weed

Purchasing marijuana “all the time” became a costly habit for a 29-year-old man so he decided to grow his own.

What Kemar Tito Haynes did not expect was for lawmen to execute a search warrant at his 1st Avenue Jackson, St Michael residence on September 9.

A loose quantity of cannabis was found on a television stand in a bedroom, said police constable Victoria Taitt. She said that Haynes told lawmen when asked to account for the substance, “I now put that there to dry some more before I smoke”.

Searches were conducted in other bedrooms where stalks and loose cannabis were discovered on the floor. Nineteen plants were found hanging in a closet while stalks were found in a chest of drawers.

Three, four-foot plants under cultivation were also found outside in the enclosed yard.

“Things hard, so instead of buying all the time I decided to plant a few in the yard. Everything in here is mine,” he told police at the time.

Today in the No 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court Haynes stuck to his story as he gave an explanation.

“I was not cultivating it to sell but for a little smoke . . . things kind of hard and I did not have any money to buy so I asking for a chance,” Haynes stated.

He was fined $1,500 which must be paid in two months if he wants to avoid six months in prison.

Haynes must return to the court on November 11 to present his receipt.