admitted possession of $500 worth of cannabis intended for supply.

Charles Richardson's lawyer, Mr. Philip Perinchief, told Magistrates Court the 22-year-old had been "going through a bad patch in life''.

Prosecutor Insp. Peter Duffy said on the afternoon of September 10, narcotics officers saw the Smith's Parish youth as they arrived at Devil's Hole.

They watched him walk to a hedge and throw a package into it, Insp. Duffy said.

The officers retrieved the package and found it contained 20 pay-type envelopes of cannabis.

Richardson was arrested and the drugs were later found to weigh 13.16 grams.

Mr. Perinchief said the amount of the "soft drug'' Richardson had been caught with was less than half an ounce. He asked that the matter be disposed of by way of a fine so the student could continue his education.

Richardson also had a part-time job as a hotel houseman, the lawyer said. Mr.

Perinchief said that if the drug had not been found packaged in the way it was, Richardson would only have been charged with possession.

But Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis said it was obvious the drug was for sale and, "that element of supply is the real mischief we have to deal with.'' Mr. Francis took up Insp. Duffy and Mr. Perinchief's suggestion of ordering a social inquiry report.

He ordered Richardson to appear for sentencing on December 18.