An American tourist who claimed to be disabled was fined $2,000 yesterday after he admitted having cannabis for medical reasons,

Magistrates’ Court heard Sean Finnerty, 48, plead guilty to possession of the drug in his cabin on the Norwegian Escape cruise ship.

He told the court he used the drug to treat anxiety, depression and pain after an operation during which he had a cancerous kidney removed,

But he admitted neither he or his wheelchair-bound wife, who also used the drug for relief of back pain, had a medical marijuana card.

Magistrate Juan Wolffe was told Customs officers found a glass pipe containing a plantlike residue, as well as plantlike material in a plastic bag and also in a clear prescription bottle, a bottle of allergy relief pills and a pre-rolled cigarette in the couple’s cabin,

The defendant confirmed that the plant was cannabis and that the items were his.

The incident happened on November 4.

Finnerty told the court: “I sincerely apologise for my ignorance, my lack of understanding the laws, and not doing my own research before coming here.”

Mr Wolffe ordered Finnerty to pay the fine before he left the island.

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