A port worker who believes marijuana is a multi-purpose drug and advocates its use, yesterday was fined $15,000 on two charges of possession of drugs. Ray Hinkson, 55 of Hutton Street, St Ann's, was ordered to pay $7,000 forthwith. If he fails to pay the money, the father of a ten-year-old girl, would serve 12 months and two years hard labour respectively.
Hinkson was fined $5,000 to be paid forthwith, or 12 months hard labour after he pleaded guilty to possession of 44.7 grammes of marijuana. He was also fined $10,000 or two years hard labour after he pleaded guilty to possession of one kilogramme of marijuana. Hinkson was ordered to pay $2,000 forthwith, with seven days to pay the remaining $8,000.
Appearing before Senior Magistrate Annette Mc Kenzie in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Court, Hinkson was unrepresented. Although no family members were present yesterday, two of Hinkson's friends attended the hearing. It was alleged that on January 17 at Independence Square North, Port-of-Spain, Hinkson had in his possession 45 packets of marijuana weighing 44.7 grammes and that on the same day at his home in St Ann's, one kilo of marijuana was found in his bedroom.
The court heard from Sgt Ricardo Timothy that PCs Dwayne John and Marc Marcellin of the Port-of-Spain City Police, acting on information, went to the corner of Charlotte Street and Independence Square North, near Lucky Bakery, where they observed him standing next to a make-shift cart from which he was taking packets off the roof. Following a search, officers recovered 45 packets of marijuana.
Executing a search warrant at Hinkson's home later on, the officers later recovered alarge plastic bag containing seven smaller bags which had seeds, stems, shoots and dried plant material weighing one kilogramme. Pleading guilty to the two charges, Hinkson told the magistrate he did not want any conflict with the law as he was accustomed to keeping to himself but he had been helping out a situation.
Revealing that one of his relatives had chosen to become a recluse in the bush, Hinkson said he often got vegetables from the man and while he supports the use of marijuana as he felt it was beneficial health-wise, there were other uses to be derived from the herb. The magistrate prompted some laughter when she told Hinkson: "Although you believe marijuana has benefits to it, as long as the law says it is illegal, you will be arrested and brought to court.
"You must get Parliament to change the laws. Once you are caught, that's it."