A LOCAL judge has hit out at “certain sections of the media” who he said have been pushing for the decriminalisation of cannabis.
Deputy District Judge Phillip Mateer was commenting on the case of Ryan Birney (24) of Main Street, Ederney at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to possession of the drug.
Birney had been detected with cannabis after police stopped a Vauxhall Corsa on November 13 last year. They noted a strong smell of cannabis coming from the car, and when they searched the vehicle they found a small amount of herbal cannabis, worth £10, which Birney said belonged to him for his own personal use.
Birney said he had bought the drug to smoke at a party in Omagh that night.
When Judge Mateer pointed out Birney had also been found with cannabis the month previous, defence barrister Stefan Rafferty said Birney was dealing with the issue of cannabis use, which he said he used to help with certain mental health issues.
Judge Mateer replied that there was “a body of evidence” that regular cannabis use exacerbated some mental health issues, “despite what is said in certain sections of the media.” He adjourned Birney’s case for four weeks, in order for a pre-sentence report to be carried out by probation services.
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