A Sophia man caught with two marijuana plants in his home was fined after he pleaded guilty at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Teddy Morgan, 33, pleaded guilty with explanation to cultivating cannabis at his ‘B’ Field Sophia home on April 6, when the charge was read to him by Magistrate Alex Moore.
“I born with asthma,” explained Morgan. He further mentioned that his two-month-old daughter also suffers from the same ailment, and was the main reason for him acquiring the plant. He added that he boils the root and feeds it to the infant in the form of tea to help her breathe.
However, Magistrate Moore told Morgan that he was not sure that all the legal remedies were exhausted, in the midst of reiterating the fact that cannabis is still prohibited.
It is the prosecution’s case that acting on information, police went into ‘B’ Field Sophia on a raid. Prosecutor Anthony said when the officers went to the defendant’s home, they conducted a consented search and discovered two six inch cannabis plants in metal tins. She said Morgan was told of the allegation, arrested and slapped with the cultivating a prohibited substance charge.
For his guilty plea and by extension not wasting the court’s time, as well as being a first time offender, Morgan did not receive a custodial sentence. He was ordered to pay a fine of $20,000 together with community service.
