Pubdate: Fri, 15 Feb 2002
Source: Reuters (Wire)
Copyright: 2002 Reuters Limited

BOB MARLEY'S SONS CAUGHT WITH "BIG JOINTS"

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Reuters) - Police in north Florida have arrested
two sons of the late Jamaican reggae star Bob Marley on marijuana
possession charges after finding several "big joints" in a car in
which they were riding, officials said.

Julian Ricardo Marley, 26, and Stephen Nesta Marley, 29, of Miami,
were charged on Wednesday after police stopped a speeding
Mercedes-Benz on a highway near Tallahassee, the state capital, police
said.

"I walked up to the driver's door and smelled a strong odour of
marijuana," said Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Hugh Cutchen. "In
searching the vehicle we found eight big joints of marijuana."

One of the marijuana cigarettes was in a jacket owned by Julian Marley
and the others were found under the passenger seat where Stephen
Marley was sitting, Cutchen said.

Stephen Marley was charged with possession of marijuana and drug
paraphernalia including rolling papers. Julian was charged with possession.

The brothers, who are reggae musicians and were returning home from a
concert in New Orleans, posted bail and were released from jail,
Cutchen said.

Bob Marley, who died of cancer in 1981, was a marijuana user. Ganja,
as it is known in his native Jamaica, is considered a sacrament in the
Rastafarian faith and Jamaican lawmakers are considering a move to
decriminalise its use in small quantities.
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