An American who uses marijuana to ease his breathing disorder and to sleep at night was fined $1,200 for possession in Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Brian McKennell, of Bellmore, New York, flew to Bermuda on a commercial flight on October 28 around 2.30 p.m. He was searched after drug dogs became interested in him in the baggage hall.

McKennell showed officers a Ziploc baggie containing 8.09 grams of marijuana which he took from inside his pants. The 48-year old said he got the drug in New York and smoked it in order to breathe easy at night.

"I'm sorry for what I caused your country," he told Senior Magistrate Archie Warner.