Asthmatic, social smoker fined for ganja

Three men nabbed with marijuana on Christmas Day were yesterday charged separately for possession of narcotics.

Appearing before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, John De Caires and Gavin Cox, of 70 CC Eccles and 685 B South Sophia, respectively, admitted that on December 25, at Providence, they both had a gramme of cannabis each in their possession.

De Caires, a mechanic, told the court that he used the illegal substance to treat his asthma. “I does trouble with asthma meh worship. Duh is why I does use it [cannabis],” he exclaimed.

Meanwhile, Cox, when questioned by the Magistrate, related that he uses cannabis as a form of “social smoking.”

De Caires and Cox were fined $3,000 each and ordered to serve six months community service.
Meanwhile, Eon Duncan, 52, of 37 Providence, East Bank Demerara, denied that on December 25, he had a gramme of cannabis in his possession. Duncan was placed on $5,000 bail and the case was transferred to the Providence Magistrates’ Court for January 4.