British citizen tells court he needs JA ganja for healing

A British citizen who pleaded guilty to ganja charges yesterday said he believes Jamaican marijuana can help his recovery from cancer.

Peter Collins, 62, pleaded guilty to being in possession of and taking steps to export ganja when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday. The weight of the substance was 8.38 ounces.

The court heard that on December 1, Collins was preparing to board a flight from the Norman Manley International Airport. While he was being screened, he refused to allow the security personnel to conduct a search of his person. It was further reported that police escorted Collins to the search room. On the way there, Collins removed packages from his waist and placed them in his bag. The police removed three packages found to contain vegetable matter, resembling ganja.

When he appeared before Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague yesterday, Collins' attorney Mark Jennings told the court that his client was prepared for any punishment.

RENAL CANCER PATIENT

Jennings said that Collins is a recovering renal cancer patient who also had a heart attack and he believes that the marijuana grown in Jamaica can assist in his rehabilitation.

"He was not carrying it to export to anybody or any such thing. He has never been in trouble with the law in England and I have testimonials from doctors and family members," Jennings shared. He handed the judge a 178-page document which speaks to Collins' medical history and character.

Collins further explained that he has been smoking ganja since he was 16 and admits that it helps to relax his nerves.

"The CBD [cannabidiol] oils help with cancer, which helps with my anxiety. In England they grow the ganja under the lights and it makes you psychotic and I don't need to be. The Jamaican weed is the cleanest. It is the high grade and it has been proven to help with stress and my general health," Collins told the judge.

Cole-Montague said she was moved by one of his character witnesses, his 26-year-old daughter, who shared that her father was a "polite and respectful individual, and the most honest and generous man, with a heart bigger than any other". She added that her father also suffers from depression and has encountered a series of mental breakdowns.

While stressing that drug offences are serious, Cole-Montague said that based on the various submissions, a fine was the most appropriate sentence.

Collins was ordered to pay $15,000 or serve three months for possession of ganja. For taking steps to export ganja, he is to pay a fine of $80,000 or serve six months in prison.