Yesterday, The STAR reported that a man from Portmore, St. Catherine, will be sentenced on Monday for offences committed at the recent Reggae Sumfest Festival in Montego Bay, St. James.

Clinton Smith pleaded guilty to possession of ganja, dealing in ganja and resisting arrest, after being observed and then approached by lawmen at the music festival.

Based on the general behaviour pattern at large outdoor reggae and dancehall concerts in Jamaica, we are almost sure that he was not the only one plying his 'weed' trade during the festival. However, so far this is the only matter before the courts arising out of Sumfest that we are aware of.

So while he did break the law, there is the matter of consistency. At any secular outdoor music event in Jamaica, one is sure to see a number of men selling marijuana, many times on the bud with bundles of stalks prominently displayed. In addition, a significant proportion of the audience (and sometimes a performer or two) will have a 'spliff' readily at hand.

And much of this takes place in full view of police officers, who most times choose to turn a blind eye (and a plugged nose) to common practices that are in fact legal offences.

Hence, to arrest and charge one person for an offence that is committed over and over again by others in the same or a similar setting may give the wrong impression that the authorities are punishing one due to inability to punish all. It smacks also of unfair targeting, as the law is being inconsistently applied.

And such inconsistency breeds serious discontent.