HOSPITALITY manager Mark Jackson has been fined for possessing marijuana, which he smoked after night work to help him get some sleep.

Jackson has a history of drug use dating back to 2000, when the Supreme Court gave him a suspended jail sentence for supplying drugs.

However, his last drug-related offence was in 2005.

Jackson, a 48-year-old who supports four dependents, pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrate’s Court yesterday to the unlawful possession of a small amount of marijuana and a pipe last October 20.

Police executed a search warrant at his Andergrove home at 12.45am and Jackson was the sole occupant, prosecutor Constable Janelle Young said.

Asked if he had anything to declare, he said he had a bong beside his bed.

A homemade pipe and a small amount of marijuana were found.

He told police he had smoked some marijuana that morning, after night work, because it helped him to sleep.

The items were seized and he was issued with a property receipt.

Duty lawyer John Aberdeen said Jackson “holds a managerial position in hospitality” and did mostly night work.

His previous convictions in 2000 and 2005 were acknowledged but the new offences involved only a small amount of drugs for personal use, Mr Aberdeen said.

Mr Aberdeen asked for no conviction to be recorded because of the length of time that had elapsed since the last offence.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer imposed a fine of $600 and ordered that no conviction be recorded.”

http://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/marijuana-helped-night-worker-get-some-sleep/1228013/