POT LEADS TO $100 FINE

A Sudbury judge refused to give a former city high school student a
conditional discharge for having marijuana at his school last November.

Court was told the school's principal was doing a walkabout on the
school grounds when she saw Michael Poyner, 18, trying to stuff
something into his jean pocket.

The something was a small plastic bag containing about $10 worth of
marijuana, said federal drug prosecutor Richard Huneault.

Ontario Court Justice Guy Mahaffy rejected a suggestion that Poyner be
given a discharge. Such a disposition would mean that Poyner would not
end up with a criminal record.

Such a sentence would send the wrong message to those who take drugs
to school, said the judge.

"A discharge here would pass a message to those with drugs at school
that it's OK if you get caught because all you get is a discharge," he
said.

Instead, he convicted Poyner and fined him $100.