Tourist held with weed said he prefers US ganja

A tourist, who was held with ganja when he entered the island, told a senior parish judge that he carried his weed from the US because the Jamaican weed is of "inferior quality".

"I thought our ganja was the most sought after, not that I am defending it or anything, but here you are finding fault with it," Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque said as she expressed shock at the man's utterances.

The defendant, Omari Diah, pleaded guilty to possession of ganja and importing ganja on Wednesday when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court. Prosecutors outline that Diah arrived in the island and when his luggage was searched, the substance was found. It is said to weigh three ounces.

Diah explained to the court that he does not like the weed in Jamaica and preferred to carry his own supply, which he sourced in California.

"You think our ganja is inferior?" the judge probed, to which the defendant nodded in agreement.

For importing ganja, Diah was fined $50,000 or nine months' imprisonment at hard labour.

- T.T.