Gavin Peart, a resident of London, England, who was caught attempting to leave the island with six pounds of marijuana, told the court that he uses the herb on a 'vital level'.

Peart pleaded guilty with explanation to possession of, dealing in, and taking steps to export marijuana when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

medical purposes

Asked to share his explanation, Peart told the court, "I use it for medical purposes or for sacramental purposes. I don't really eat meat or those things and a di first your honour, a jus tru mi have mi youths dem up deh and mi nuh sen dem go doctor up deh, a jus di vital purpose your honour."

He also told the court that he was planning to make medicine with the contraband. "Mi jus plan fi liquify it and mek it inna medicine," he said. He pleaded for lenience, telling RM Brown, "I woulda like yu jus see wid mi your honour, since a di first and mi have four youths. One a dem a jus five months."

For possession of ganja, he was sentenced to pay $9,000 or serve six months, he was admonished and discharged for dealing and for taking steps to export the drug, he was fined $27,000 or six months. In addition, he will have to serve three months in jail.