Suspended sentence for “medicinal” drug

A man who imported $8 000 worth of marijuana in bags of flour for “medical use” has been given a 12-month prison sentence which has been suspended for 24 months.

First-time offender Lester Elon Harewood, of Free Hill, St George pleaded guilty to trafficking in, possession and possession with intent to supply and importation of the one kilogramme of the illegal vegetable substance.

On April 4 officials from the Customs and Excise Department informed police of barrels bearing Harewood’s name. Sergeant Shane Chase said lawmen were called in after a check of the contents uncovered the marijuana in bags of flour. Harewood was shown the contents and admitted ownership.

On Wednesday, the convicted man told Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes, “Everything is mine. I bring it for my medical use. I infuse it in coconut oil and using it as an [anti]-inflammatory for my swollen colon and it does help.”

He also admitted that no doctor had prescribed the drug as medicine. He claimed that when he resided in Toronto, a doctor told him it could help, and so he had been purchasing it from a shop.

“But you are in Barbados we don’t get it so,” said the Chief Magistrate who stated that “a lot of people” felt that because there was a medicinal cannabis industry established in Barbados it meant that they “could grow cannabis in their backyard” but that was not the case.

“The people have set up a regulatory regime where you apply so that there will be controls in place,” Weekes stated.

Harewood said, “I am sorry sir.” He explained that he had been diagnosed with having an enlarged colon ten years ago.

“I didn’t bring nothing to sell,” he added.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for 24 months on the importation charge. He was reprimanded and discharged on the other three offences.