DUBAI // An American man who claimed that the marijuana in his possession was for medicinal purposes was jailed for four years on Sunday.
C M, 34, was arrested at Dubai International Airport on December 18 with 67g of the drug in his bag and pockets as he arrived in the country to start a job.
“The customs found drugs in my bag, it’s for my personal use. They then sent me to the anti-narcotics department and there, they said they found more drugs in my shorts,” he told the criminal court.
He said he only took the drug to treat his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and provided documents to back up his claim.
“I am not guilty. I have an authenticated document proving that it is prescribed for me and the documents are signed by the UAE Embassy in Washington DC,” he said.
The document, which was translated from English to Arabic, read: “The purpose of this medical document is to identify this individual as a patient whose possession and / or cultivation of medicinal cannabis is permissible according to California Health and Safety Code Section 11362.5 and Senate Bill 420.”
It had been notorised by the UAE Embassy in Washington DC and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The court, however, ordered that C M be jailed and then deported after completing his term.
The verdict remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
salamir@thenational.ae
