Buddhist Monk on bond for selling pot

[freddie]

Buddhist monk Jose Maria Sanz-Tonnelier on bond for selling pot

Article from: The Daily Telegraph

 

June 26, 2008 03:30pm

 

A TERMINALLY ill Buddhist monk who was caught supplying cannabis from his inner-Sydney laundrette has been placed on a good behaviour bond.

 

Jose Maria Sanz-Tonnelier, 63, last week pleaded guilty in the Downing Centre Local Court to charges of supplying and possessing cannabis following raids on his Darlinghurst business in 2004 and 2007.

 

A total of 90 grams of cannabis was found in the Palmer St laundrette.

 

Sanz-Tonnelier was charged with supplying cannabis after police caught him in the act of selling 0.57 grams of the drug, worth $10, to a young woman.

 

Deputy Chief Magistrate Helen Syme today said she had taken into account the monk's terminal cancer and his age in placing him on an 18-month good behaviour bond.

 

Ms Syme rejected an argument put by barrister Shane McAnulty that his client had the cannabis for medicinal purposes, specifically to relieve chronic pain.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/stor...5001021,00.html