MAN SPENDS SIX MONTHS EXTRA IN JAIL - WANTS SMOKING OF GANJA LEGALISED

A San Fernando man who spent six months longer in jail than necessary
emerged from custody defiant yesterday, saying he wanted the use of
marijuana legalised.

"I looking for freedom to smoke marijuana in peace," 67-year-old Uric
Merrick said, adding that he used the drug for meditation.

Merrick, a professed Christian, said he did not understand why the use
of the drug was illegal, when it could be used for the "right" purposes.

High Court Judge Gregory Smith ordered his release from prison
yesterday-almost one year after Merrick had been sentenced to six
months in custody for possession of marijuana.

The sentence was imposed on September 8, 2006, and Merrick filed a
notice of appeal the same day. The appeal never came up for hearing,
and he withdrew the appeal on August 4, 2007. By that time, however,
he had already served the six-month sentence, but was not released
from custody as he was being held as a remand prisoner.

Attorneys Mark Seepersad and Gerald Ramdeen filed an application for
habeas corpus on his behalf on August 23, and when the case was called
before Justice Gregory Smith at the Port of Spain High Court
yesterday, an order for Merrick's release was made.

State attorney Karel Douglas represented the Commissioner of Prisons,
and said the Commissioner did not object to the order being made.

The State will have to pay Merrick's legal costs in bringing the
application.

In a brief interview before he left the court house, Merrick said he
was not sure how he felt about being kept in jail for an extra six
months. However, he said he was interested in seeking compensation
from the State for the extra time he served.