Mason charged $5,000 for cannabis cultivation

A mason of Vermont could see himself spending the next four months behind bars.

Wesley Simon, on Monday, was charged that on August 13, 2017 in the Vermont mountain, he did cultivate 30 mature cannabis plants.

Simon pleaded guilty when he appeared before magistrate Bertie Pompey at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

He was seen tending to the plants by members of the Rapid Response Unit (RRU), who were on patrol in the area, and when questioned as to the ownernship of the plants, he responded “Officer, me just ah do me likkle hustle.”

He was arrested and taken to the Central Police Station.

In defence, Simon said he began using cannabis from a young age, because his mother boiled it for him to drink to treat his asthma. He said he now gives it to one of his daughters, who also suffers from asthma.

When the magistrate asked if his daughter was why he had the 30 plants, he said no, the plants were for his use, because sometimes, employment as a mason does not come as regularly as he would like, so he cultivates the plant to make a little money.

Simon was charged $5,000 of which $2,000 was to be paid forthwith or in default, he would spend four months in prison. He was given two months to pay the balance or spend four months in prison.(JWC)