Ganja farmer fined

Rennie Diaz, 29, of Tarouba Road, Marabella, appeared before Magistate Melvin Daniel in the San Fernando Second Magistrates’ Court charged with possession of two grammes of marijuana.

A summary trial was recommended and Diaz told Daniel he started using the marijuana to ease his headaches he began getting after an accident. He said all the other medications prescribed to him had failed.

Diaz was arrested on Tuesday by PC Marash.

He pleaded guilty on Thurs-day and was fined yesterday.

Diaz said his head began hurting seven years ago after the accident. Treatment at the hospital he said, did not help.

He said while waiting to be attended to, a man suggested he use marijuana to ease the pain.

Diaz told Daniel he tried every remedy, including volcano mud.

As he apologised for committing the offence, Diaz pleaded with the magistrate not to send him to jail and asked that he be made to do community service, or sent to a rehabilitation centre.

“ Grant me something so that I can give back to the country, if possible. I believe I should have done it before... Go to a rehab centre, but because of frustration, I went back on it. Sir, I have some sweet peppers coming and I do not want to go to jail, ” Diaz pleaded.