Herbalist making ‘extra change’ from ganja, fined

Guyanese national Jagmohan Murray who has been residing here for over a decade admitted today to cultivating marijuana and to two counts of possession, possession with intent to supply and possession with intent to traffic the drug.

And now with a $5,000 fine imposed which the 37- year-old, 1st Avenue Accommodation Road, Bush Hall, St Michael resident must pay within a three-month period, he is appealing to government to give him a “little land to do good farming”.

The convicted man is facing six months in prison if the amount is not paid to the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court in the stipulated time.

His lawyer Dave Porter said his client was contrite, pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and has thrown himself at the mercy of the court.

“To my mind the amount of drugs is a small quantity and I am asking that under the circumstances a fine be imposed that is reasonable for him to have time to pay within a reasonable time,” Porter urged the court.

Police executed a search at Murray’s residence on May 30 and found 867 seedlings of the illegal drug. Sergeant Robert Jones said the drugs weighed 600 grammes and had an estimated street value if $3,000.

“Look, everything on me own. Me like marijuana herbs. I is a herbalist,” he told police at the time.

When asked today by Magistrate Douglas Frederick the purpose for so much drugs Murray responded that he and his wife had been in an argument and he was put out.

“I went and build a little shack in the bush and study how to make a little extra change,” said Murray who also said he was a “B class carpenter” and painter.

“Something tell me I can become a farmer too. I started to plant it last year. I sell a little about $500 or $400. I know it illegal but I did not know it so much illegal.

“I want the government to give me a little land to do good farming. Government give me a piece of land to motivate me to farm . . . . I will come back and pay the fine but I not coming back here,” he stated.

On some of the counts Murray was jointly charged with his 46-year-old wife Roseann Maria Murray, of the same address. However, she pleaded not guilty to the offences of possession, possession with intent to supply and traffic of cannabis.

She was granted bail in the sum of $3,000 to return to court on October 6.

Her husband’s fine was imposed on the supply charge while he was convicted, reprimanded and discharged on all the other cannabis offences.