A Pembroke man was fined $1,000 after admitting to cannabis possession.Prosecutor Tawana Tannock told Magistrates’ Court that on August 23, police arrested Michael Raynor, of Berkeley Road.According to Ms Tannock, at around 9am, officers on patrol on North Shore Road, Devonshire, when they smelled a strong scent of burned cannabis.The officers looked in the direction of the scent, and saw a group of men.After observing Raynor acting suspiciously, the officers searched him and found a clear, self-sealed plastic bag containing seven brown paper twists with plant like material in them.Raynor was arrested for the offence. The plant-like material was later examined and confirmed to be cannabis, weighing 23.89 grams and having a street value of $450.Under initial interviews, the 52-year-old admitted that he intended to sell the cannabis, but yesterday in court retracted his previous statement.Raynor, who paints and does bodywork on cars, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis.Said Raynor: “Your worship, the cannabis that I had was mine. It was for my personal use. It wasn’t intent to sell.”The defendant also explained that he purchased the cannabis in the pre-rolled state that the police had found it on him.“I thought about this last night,” said Raynor.“I’m tired of having to run backwards and forward concerning this matter.”Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner fined Raynor $1,000, to be paid by November 29 for the offence.Raynor also had an outstanding $800 fine for a previous conviction of marijuana possession which Mr Warner insisted be paid that day.