The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 28-year-old man found with one gram of marijuana earlier this month was granted a conditional discharge and ordered to attend counselling yesterday.

Clyde Rolle appeared before Magistrate Shaka Serville yesterday after police found a gram of Indian hemp at a home where he was staying on December 2.

The court was told that around 10pm officers armed with a search warrant went to an apartment complex located on Wright’s Lane off Wulff Road.

When they arrived at the home, a man opened the door and was shown the search warrant.

Prosecutor Kenny Thompson said police, while conducting their search of the home, discovered a clear plastic bag containing marijuana in one of the bedrooms.

The defendant was subsequently arrested and taken to the Drug Enforcement Unit, where he admitted to the offence.

During his interview with police, Rolle also told officers he had purchased the drugs from someone he knew and said they were for his personal use.

After pleading guilty to the charge, the defendant told the court he used marijuana to help him sleep and as a means to cope with his problems.

Speaking about those problems yesterday, Rolle, father of a seven-year-old girl, explained he had lost his job due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was also experiencing issues with his child’s mother.

In response, Magistrate Serville told the defendant there were other methods he could have used to cope with his problems as opposed to smoking marijuana, which he reminded him was not legal in the country.

He said while he understands many believe the country’s marijuana laws will soon be amended, the reality is use of the drug is still prohibited and further advised him to follow the law.

Before handing down his ruling, Magistrate Serville gave Rolle the ultimatum of either receiving a fine or going to counselling for help. Rolle chose the latter.

As a result, he was granted a conditional discharge once he attends counselling at the Community Counselling and Assessment Centre.

Magistrate Serville warned him that failure to comply with the conditions of his release will result in a $150 fine. The matter was adjourned to May 2, 2022.