American fined for ganja

An American woman who was arrested after she tried to carry ganja aboard a cruise ship in Montego Bay was fined a total of J$3,450 when she appeared in the St James Parish Court last Friday.

Simone Brown, 28, of a Chicago, Illinois address, pleaded guilty to possession of and taking steps to export 2.35 ounces of ganja.

Brown's lawyer, Noel Hemmings, told presiding parish judge Sandria Wong-Small that his client was a passenger aboard the ship, which stopped at Jamaica as part of its cruise route.

"She decided to go on a carnival cruise, and one of the stops was Jamaica. She was just here to enjoy our island, and she has no previous convictions," said Hemmings.

"And she decided to enjoy that aspect of it? It is not an allowable amount of ganja, and that is why people find themselves in trouble like your client is now," Wong-Small replied.

Brown was subsequently ordered to pay a fine of J$750 or spend 30 days in prison for possession of ganja, and J$2,700 or 30 days for attempting to export ganja.

"No matter what people tell you, it is illegal to have ganja in Jamaica," Wong-Small addressed Brown as she handed down the sentence.