A man who claimed he did not know that cannabis was illegal has been fined £150.
A district judge told the 21-year-old, who suffered from mental health problems, that the use of the drug was a “fool’s game” that would do him no good.
Anton William Linton, 21, from Magherafelt pleaded guilty to possession of a Class B drug at Armagh Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Court heard that on May 12, the defendant was searched by police due to his behaviour on the Friary Road in Armagh.
During this, officers found a bong and a packet of herbal cannabis.
When cautioned, Linton stated: “It’s £10 worth of weed, I did not realise it was illegal, it is mine.”
District Judge Rosie Watters commented: “Where did you buy it from, the local shop? Everyone knows that it is illegal.”
Defence counsel said: “Mr Linton has mental health issues and had been using the drug.”
District Judge Watters stated: “It has been clearly shown that use of cannabis can create mental health problems.”
Linton’s solicitor informed the court that the defendant had been abstinent from the drug for at least a month.
District Judge Watters said: “It’s doing you all sorts of harm, it’s a fool’s game, in my opinion, it will not do anything good for you.”
Linton was ordered to pay a fine of £150, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 20 weeks.
