treated lightly in New York was on the receiving end of a $700 fine in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

And Acting Senior Magistrate Cheryl-Ann Mapp said, in her opinion, Tracey Harkins should have known better.

Harkins pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and drug equipment on August 5. Her cabin on board the Song of America was searched by Customs officers when the vessel arrived at Penno's Wharf in St. George's.

The officers found a bag containing plant material and three cigarette roaches containing plant material. Harkins told the officers she did not intend to use the drugs on the Island.

A Government analysis later revealed that the plant material was 1.61 grams of cannabis. Duty counsel Elizabeth Christopher said Harkins felt that if she had been caught under similar circumstances in New York then it would have been treated like a traffic offence.

Mrs. Mapp fined her $500 for possession of the cannabis and $200 for possession of the drug equipment.