Man had 51 dope joints

[boulder]

Police found a man with 51 cannabis "joints" strapped to his leg when they searched him at a regional airport, Darwin Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

 

Richard James Bell, 28, was a heavy cannabis smoker and it was for his own use, his lawyer said.

 

Magistrate Dick Wallace said he noted a charge of supplying cannabis had been withdrawn.

 

"I can accept that the cannabis was for personal use if I shut one eye," he said.

 

While the facts did not say that Bell supplied anyone, the cannabis was in a form ready to be supplied.

 

Bell, of Malak, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis in a public place at Nguiu on Bathurst Island on February 21 last year.

 

Prosecutor Sergeant Dave Peach said the 51 sticks of cannabis were in foil inside a 20cm-long cylinder wrapped in plastic and foil.

 

Total weight of the cannabis was 25.4g.

 

Asked why he had the cannabis, Bell replied: "Personal reasons."

 

Defence lawyer Gordon Francis said Bell first smoked cannabis when aged 12 and conceded he had a problem.

 

At the time he was going to the Tiwi Islands to work for eight or 10 weeks, which was why he had so much cannabis.

 

Bell had an "impressive" work record, was committed to his family and wanted to address his drug problem.

 

Mr Wallace said cannabis had contributed to "the dreadful problems on the Tiwi Islands" and was associated with some suicides.

 

"I think I must accept that this cannabis was just going to be used by you," he told Bell,

 

"I hope that is the truth because you have had a couple of more serious matters including a December 2001 conviction for supplying cannabis."

 

The magistrate sentenced him to two months' jail, suspending the whole sentence on condition Bell commit no jailable offence for three years.

 

Northern Territory News