A driver who told the police that Indian hemp helped him to work efficiently, was on Tuesday sentenced to 10 months imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court.
In addition, Ishmael Clottey was asked to pay GH¢540 fine or in default serve four months.
Clottey 25, was sentenced on his own plea for using narcotic drugs by the court presided over by Mr Eric Kyei Baffour.
Mr Joseph Turkson and Mr Paul Owusu, both lawyers pleaded with the court to deal leniently with the accused following his admittance and only a small sample was found on him.
They contended that the accused was also a first offender.
Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Reindolf Agyemang said the complainant was a Police Officer stationed at Kaneshie, Accra while the accused is a driver in the same area.
On February 7, this year, at about 2:30 am, Clottey was arrested and escorted to the Kaneshie Police Station for stealing a mobile phone.
ASP Agyemang said before being detained in the police cells, he was searched during which a box of matches and a piece of smoked leaves suspected to be Indian hemp were found in his pocket.
During interrogation, the accused admitted ownership of the dried leaves saying it enhanced his performance at work.