FIFTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Sophia resident Ian Jackman, also known as ‘Turkey’, was fined $25,000 with an alternative of six months’ imprisonment when he appeared before Sparendaam Magistrate Alex Moore on Tuesday, May 7th, charged with possession of narcotics.

Prosecutor Harry Anthony told the court that on Thursday, May 2nd, at Sophia, East Coast Demerara, police acting on information conducted a search at Jackman’s home and found six grammes of cannabis in a pot.

Jackman said he would usually use the herb to make tea to treat his asthma symptoms. He contended that he does not smoke cigarettes, let alone marijuana, but Magistrate Alex Moore informed the defendant that although he sympathised with his condition, use of cannabis is illegal in Guyana, unlike in some territories in the United States of America, where marijuana is legally used for medical purposes. Accordingly, he urged Jackman to resort to lawful medications prescribed by a physician for his asthma.

Jackman pleaded for leniency, and vowed never to allow such an incident to recur.