Marijuana user sent for evaluation pending sentence

A 62-year-old man who had $2,379 in cannabis for his personal use will spend the next three weeks at the Psychiatric Hospital being evaluated.

Magistrate Graveney Bannister remanded St Alban Orlando Drakes, of Monroe Road, Haggatt Hall, St Michael to the Black Rock, St Michael facility after he explained both to police and the District ‘A’ Traffic Court that he uses the illegal drug by boiling and drinking it because “I ain’t too good in my head”.

Sergant Edwin Pinder told the magistrate police executed a search warrant at Drakes’ residence earlier today as a result of information received. The cannabis which weighed 475.8 grammes was found in a wooden structure located in his yard.

Drakes admitted this afternoon to charges of possession, possession with intent to supply and having trafficable quantity of the illegal drug.

“It won’t happen again. I can’t say nothing much. I getting my punishment here now,” Drakes said in his explanation to the court. He also disclosed that he had been using the drug for his “head” for about five years.

“I am an asthmatic and they say it does help. I won’t drink it no more or buy it no more, I learn my lesson,” he added even as Magistrate Bannister questioned whether he used the substance everyday given the large amount of the drug found.

“Not everyday. It would take me the whole year. I take it like tea bags. I was growing it in the yard. It won’t happen again. I plan to mend my ways and change my life. It never too late to make a change.

“I have it for medical purposes,” Drakes said before he was remanded until June 4.