A marijuana activist and "a stupid American'' were among those appearing on illegal drug charges during the plea session of Magistrates court on Thursday.

Marijuana decriminalisation advocate Mitchell Watson, refused to be tried in the lower court for possession of the drug.

Watson, 44, of Spice Drive in Warwick, did not have to answer the charges as he chose to have the matter dealt with in Supreme Court.

Not represented by a lawyer, Watson told Senior Magistrate Archie Warner that he "is a poor man'' and will have to defend himself.

In February Watson stepped up his fight to decriminalise marijuana with a one man protest march on Parliament. In 1996 Watson presented a petition on the issue bearing 4,000 signatures, to then Premier David Saul. He has claimed that Premier Jennifer Smith was among those who signed, but he cannot find the petition.

A visitor from Andover, Massachusetts branded himself "a stupid American'' during the same plea court session and apologised for wasting public funds to prosecute him.

Forty-nine year-old David Thomas Vining was approached by narcotics officers at the Bermuda International Airport on Tuesday April 18 and was asked if he had any drugs on him.

According to Crown counsel Cindy Clarke, Vining readily admitted that he had two bags of cannabis in his luggage and handed the drugs over to the officers.

The total weight of the drugs was 12.7 grams.

"I would like to apologise to you,'' Vining said to Mr. Warner, "and to the Police for spending what I'm sure are the very limited resources of your country on yet another stupid American.

"I was not aware of the laws in your country so I made a stupid mistake.'' Vining was fined $600 for importing cannabis and $300 for possession of drug equipment.

Also in the plea session of Magistrates Court three men found in the vicinity of Southampton Rangers Club were brought up on separate drug charges.

David Burchall, 26, of South Avenue, Southampton admitted possessing .81 grams of cannabis and .36 grams of cannabis resin on January 12. He was approached by narcotics officers while he stood on a grass verge near Southampton Rangers Club.

He was fined $500 on each count and an additional $1,000 on each count for having the drugs in an increased penalty zone.

Kenneth Burgess, 46, of Horseshoe Road, Southampton was found in the parking lot of the club with .65 grams of cannabis resin but was not fined for being in the increased penalty zone.

The drugs were found in Burgess' car by narcotics officers who noticed him acting suspiciously.

Burgess was fined $500.

Lawrence Harvey Raynor of Raynor's Drive in Warwick admitted possessing drug equipment.

According to Ms Clarke, narcotics officers on mobile patrol near Southampton Rangers on January 12 spotted three men huddled together in the car park.

On searching Raynor, the officers found a homemade pipe which tested positive for traces of cocaine.

Raynor was fined $350.