Anybody found in possession of drugs not for one’s exclusive use would most certainly be jailed, a magistrate said yesterday.

Ian Farrugia issued the warning after a habitual cannabis smoker who has already been sentenced for five years in jail for trafficking cannabis in 2012 confessed to possession of 140 grams of the drug with intent to sell.

Sean Farrugia, 24, from Birkirkara, was stopped by the police on January 10 after he was seen driving erratically. In his car, officers found, 140 grams of cannabis grass, cling film, a device to crush the drug, a packet of cigarette papers and roaches.

Mr Farrugia told the police he had purchased such a large amount of drug as it would work out cheaper in the long run since he had been smoking the drug for 10 years and used it very often.

He was charged with being in possession of the drug in circumstances denoting it was not for his exclusive use. He was also accused of simple possession.

Magistrate Farrugia heard that the accused, whose appeal from the 2012 sentence is still pending, had expressed the desire to reform himself and even attended a rehabilitation programme.

The magistrate said he took into consideration the “preoccupying” amount of drugs found and that Mr Farrugia had admitted to the charges. While he believed the accused when he said he would smoke a large quantity of the drug, the fact remained that he intended to sell the drug to someone else, the magistrate added.

Jailing him for 21 months, the magistrate noted that Mr Farrugia had decided to turn his life around and the court recommended to the prisons director to make arrangements so that the inmate would receive all the help he needed to kick the habit.

Mr Farrugia was also fined €500.