Judge warns martial arts coach caught with a couple of Cannabis Joints to “come up with something financially substantial to impress him” by December
A martial arts coach who was caught with €150 worth of cannabis joints in his car when stopped by Gardaí had his case for illegal drug possession adjourned at Portlaoise District Court recently.
The defendant pleaded guilty to possessing the drugs at Dublin Road, Portlaoise on 26 March.
Defending solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said that his 20-year-old client “is a man who really wants to change his life. He’s in training and wants to go travelling and a conviction would make that harder for him to do”.
Prosecuting garda David Montgomery said he was aware that the defendant trains children in martial arts at a local gym.
Judge Andrew Cody remanded the man on continuing bail until the next hearing of the case on 7 December and said that if he wanted to avoid a conviction, he would have to come up with something financially substantial to impress him.
This is another case where a person is being victimised by being dragged through the court system for simply being in possession of a few cannabis joints. I know myself from being in the martial arts space that cannabis use is quite popular, especially for after those tough training sessions. Below are just a few reasons for why some martial artists choose cannabis as a recovery aid
Pain relief: Cannabis has analgesic properties that can help alleviate exercise-induced muscle soreness and discomfort.
Inflammation reduction: Certain cannabinoids in cannabis, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have anti-inflammatory effects, which may aid in reducing post-workout inflammation.
Muscle relaxation: Cannabis can help relax muscles and promote a sense of calmness, potentially aiding in muscle recovery and relaxation after a workout.
Sleep improvement: Some cannabis strains and products may have sedative effects, helping to improve sleep quality, which is crucial for muscle repair and overall recovery.
Stress and anxiety reduction: Cannabis can have anxiolytic properties, helping individuals unwind and manage stress or anxiety that may arise after a demanding workout session.
So while Cannabis could’ve been beneficial for the consenting adult in this case instead it harmed this individual, having them treated like a criminal at the side of the road during a “drug search” and then dragged through court. This person also has to spend the next 6 months wondering how much money will be needed to impress judge Andrew Coyle. God forbid this person does a search online of Andrew Coyles past cases as in 1 of them he demands €20000 from a high level IT worker caught speeding at 202kmph in a 120kmph zone.
