A 23-year-old American woman, visiting the Island aboard the cruise ship Horizon, was fined $500 yesterday in Magistrates' Court for possession of marijuana.

Julie Kurtz, of New Jersey, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis on June 3.

Crown Counsel Oonagh Vaucrosson told the court Kurtz was found with a home-made cigarette when the ship arrived at Penno's Wharf, in St. George's.

Kurtz told Police the cigarette was "flavoured tobacco", Mrs. Vaucrosson said.

Police then searched her cabin and found additional home-made cigarettes and other plant materials.

When confronted with the material, Kurtz said: "Come on officers. I'm very sorry. It won't happen again."

Government analysis later revealed that the materials contained 3.08 grams of the controlled drug cannabis.

Kurtz's defence lawyer, Patrick Doherty, asked that Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves consider a discharge.

"She arrived on the Island with her mother after working 60-70 hour weeks to save up for the cruise for herself and her mother," Mr. Doherty said. "It's her mother's 50th birthday and she decided to treat her."

Mr. Doherty also argued that marijuana is "the least harmful of the controlled substances".

Mr. Greaves said marijuana is a "gateway drug" and that he could not give a discharge to a tourist when residents do not get discharges for possession.

Kurtz was fined $500, payable immediately, or 50 days in jail.