NASSAU-A gunshot victim who used marijuana to treat his pain has been fined $500 to avoid spending four months in prison.
Austin Pinder, 44, pleaded guilty to possession of four grams of marijuana when he appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes.
Police found the drugs in Pinder’s pants pocket on June 12.
Pinder told the magistrate that he had quit smoking marijuana but resumed his habit after a shooting last year.
Pinder claimed that he had two bullets in his body and that he had researched herbal pain remedies.
According to Pinder, he had discussed the natural treatment with a doctor.
Magistrate Forbes asked Pinder if the doctor had given him a prescription.
Pinder replied, “No, because I was on other stuff.”
However, the magistrate said the doctor didn’t write the prescription because he cannot get marijuana legally.
Magistrate Forbes said regardless Pinder’s reason for having the marijuana, he had still violated the Dangerous Drugs Act.
This is Pinder’s second conviction for drug possession. The magistrate told Pinder that he faced increased penalties for each drug conviction.
Referencing recent discussions about legalizing medicinal use of marijuana, Pinder said, “I’ll just wait on the prime minister to officially do it.”
