A former soldier was handed an 18 month-sentence yesterday after he admitted that cannabis found by police in his home was to be used alongside other “bush medicine” to treat his prostate cancer.
Remington Griffith and his 18-year-old son, Shaquille Griffith, both stood before acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, who read the joint charge to them in Georgetown.
It was alleged that the Griffiths, on May 28th, at Fitzburg, Port Kaituma, had 371 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking in their possession.
While Remington pleaded guilty, his son denied the charge.
The court subsequently heard from police prosecutor Adduni Inniss that on the day in question, ranks from the Port Kaituma Police Station conducted a search exercise on the home of the Griffiths. During the search, the cannabis was found in a couch. The prosecutor noted that when Remington was told of the offence, he admitted to the ownership of the drugs.
The father of eight, when granted the opportunity to address the court, stated, “I’m very sorry for the whole proceeding, the whole problem I caused my family and even you [the magistrate].”
Remington stated that he suffers from prostate cancer and although he was prescribed a certain medication from the doctor, it is quite expensive and has impotence as a side effect.
The man further stated that he would often use cannabis along with the dandelion bush, lemon juice, a bit of olive oil and other herbs to treat his prostate cancer. Remington added that for the past 11 years the use of the alternative medicine has helped him significantly.
Having heard from Remington and after asking a probation officer to speak with him and his son, Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus told him that in determining his sentence she took into consideration the fact that he didn’t waste the court’s time and that he produced a document from the Port Kaituma Hospital to corroborate his diagnosis. She stated, however, that the court also noted that he was a former army officer and ought to know that having cannabis is illegal.
Remington was then sentenced to 18 months in jail and fined $40,000.
Meanwhile, his son, who is a student, was granted $70,000 bail. He is expected to attend a hearing at the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court on June 6th.
