$l000 fine for drug import

Press, 1 March 1984, Page 4

$l000 fine for drug import

A young man who posted a small amount of hashish to himself for his own use while home on holiday in New Zealand, was fined $lOOO by Mr Justice Greig in the High Court at Christchurch yesterday.

John Morton Howe, aged 23, had pleaded guilty in the District Court to a charge of importing cannabis resin, a class B drug. The police statement said that on December 8, 1983, Howe, who was working at Savage River in Tasmania, posted an airmail letter to himself at his home in New Zealand. A quantity of cannabis preparation, a class B drug, also known as hashish, was enclosed.

Next day Howe flew home to New Zealand. The letter was intercepted at the parcels department of the Post Office in Christchurch and the hashish was discovered.

At first Howe denied any

knowledge of the letter but later admitted to customs officers that he sent the cannabis preparation to himself for his own use while on holiday in New Zealand. The letter contained 1.06 grams of hashish, the statement said.

Mr P. D. Woolley, for Howe, said that the importation was for his client’s own use and not for gain. He was an occasional user of cannabis, a habit he acquired in a single men’s camp in Tasmania. When he returned to visit his parents in Southland he posted himself a small amount.

Howe had spent two nights in custody and the farm of his family had been thoroughly searched for cannabis. Because of the conviction he might not be able to return to his job in Australia. He had a strong stable background and a fine would be an appropriate penalty.

While in Australia Howe had been saving steadily so that he would be able to lease part of his father’s farm, Mr Woolley said. Mr Justice Greig said that he accepted that Howe came from a supportive established family with a good background in Southland. The offence was not characteristic of his previous behaviour.

Only a small amount was imported for Howe’s own use and there was no connotation of drug dealing so it was less serious than if it had been done for profit. Nevertheless society had set its mind against the use of drugs. Howe knew that and took the risk. Now he had a blot on his life which would cause him and his family a good deal of concern.

A substantial fine had to be imposed to show that the courts would not treat the importation of drugs leniently, his Honour said.