A cruise ship visitor was fined $10,000 in Magistrates’ Court for importing more than $1,000 of cannabis.James Michael Butter, of Massachusetts, said he needed the drug to alleviate pain he suffered from arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome.The 58-year-old pleaded guilty to importing 23.45g of the controlled drug on the Norwegian Dawn on October 16.Butter, a career upholsterer, said he needed a large quantity of drugs because it was a two-week cruise and the cannabis was of poor quality.“I had to smoke two or three cigarettes to get any relief,” he told the court. “I apologise for doing what I did.”Crown counsel Cindy Clarke said that customs and ship security officers carried out a search of the Norwegian Dawn. Around 4.10pm a K9 unit indicated towards the defendant’s cabin.Inside they found several bags of plant-like material and a metal pipe outfitted with wire mesh.The drugs had an estimated street value of around $1,150 if sold in Bermuda, Ms Clarke said.Butter was arrested a short time later, and told officers: “They are mine. I take full responsibility for them.”In court he admitted importing the cannabis but denied a charge of importing drug equipment that charge was then dropped by the prosecution.He told the court that he used the drug for medicinal purposes.Duty counsel Saul Dismont asked Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner.“I sit here and write all day. Write, write write, and I have arthritis in my hand,” Mr Warner said.“If I were in possession of this quantity of drug, what would happen to me, or any other Bermudian?“You have got to respect the laws of the country that you are visiting.”Mr Warner fined Butter $10,000, ordering it to be paid immediately.Philadelphia resident Kilolo McGarran pleaded guilty to importing 5g of cannabis in an unrelated incident.A K9 unit alerted customs officers to the 37-year-old’s cabin on Enchantment of the Seas, on October 16.A search of the room found cannabis hidden in the cabin’s safe.The father-of-two told the court he was unemployed, but was expecting to return to a position as a taxi driver when he returned to the US.He didn’t realise the drugs were in his bag until he was already on the boat, he said.“I had no intention of bringing it here. I had only intended on relaxing,” he said.Mr Warner fined McGarran $1,000, ordering the fine to be paid forthwith.