A cannabis user who claimed a ‘few puffs’ were more effective at tackling pain than tablets has had his stash destroyed by a court.

Richard Day, of Queen Street, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to possession of 0.3 grams of cannabis when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, March 19.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, told the court that police officers could smell cannabis when they went to Day’s home for an unrelated civil matter on February 8.

A grinder containing a small amount of the Class B drug was discovered during a brief search of the 64 year-old’s house.

Mr Pritchard-Jones said: “He said he had bought a gram and that’s what was left. He says he suffers from chronic pain and the tablets he uses do not really address it.

“He says if he has a few puffs of cannabis that the pain tends to go.”

Mark Layton, defending, said: “He tells me he suffers from chronic pain in his hands and feet and medical efforts to address that have been unsuccessful.

“He finds cannabis is the only form of pain relief that helps.”

Magistrates fined Day £80 and ordered him to pay £85 court costs plus a £30 surcharge.

A destruction order was made for seized drugs and paraphernalia.