Magistrate tells man to substitute marijuana

Magistrate’s Court, John’s Hole, Tortola

A young man who claimed he has metal affixed to one of his feet has told Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards that he uses marijuana to ease his pain and stress.

“You need to learn other ways to deal with your stress,” the senior magistrate replied to the 28-year-old offender, Jevon Reid.

Reid, who appeared in court last Friday, pleaded guilty to possession of 40 grams of the illegal substance.

Reports are that, on January 6 this year, police met him at his workplace and informed him that they had a search warrant to be executed at his residence.

Reid led the law enforcers to his Duff’s Bottom place of abode.

Asked if he had anything illegal inside the dwelling, he reportedly said: “Officer, I have about an ounce of weed in the house. Will I be penalised for it?”

The police search commenced in the living room area, where a quantity of marijuana was recovered. When cautioned about that find, the offender said: “That’s the weed I was telling you about.”

The search continued to Reid’s bedroom, where law enforcers reportedly recovered more marijuana. “That’s some more of the weed,” Reid told the cops.

The court further heard that Reid pointed the police to another area and said “Some more in the drawer.”

The police also searched a parked vehicle at Reid’s residence. A bag of marijuana was discovered inside the vehicle, the court heard. When cautioned, Reid replied: “That’s from a bag of weed I was seeding.”

He was taken into custody.

During a subsequent police interview, Reid reportedly stated that the marijuana is for personal use.

In court, he told Senior Magistrate Richards: “I use it (marijuana) for stress and for the pain in my foot… When the pain gets really bad, I use it.”

“I have a steel in my foot,” added Reid.

Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards granted him $40,000 signed bail, and ordered him to seek drug counselling.

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