AMATEUR herbalist, Alexander Rojas Rey, has landed himself in hot water after Irish police charged him with possession of a psychedelic substance for sale or supply.
The 42-year-old appeared before the Cork Circuit Criminal Court, claiming he had extracted mescaline from a cactus he had purchased at a local gardening centre, for a home remedy he made for personal use when the police discovered the substance at his home.
Defence barrister, Peter O'Flynn, told the court Rojas Rey did not contest being in possession of the substance but refuted allegations that he intended to sell it to others, questioning whether the drug was a controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
"There has been no evidence of him profiting in any way from being in possession of this plant material," O'Flynn told the jury.
"I say you have to have a doubt about him being in possession of a controlled drug."
O'Flynn added that the defendant made a tonic for himself by mixing the extracted material with hot water.
While Rojas contests the charges against him, O'Flynn suggested clear legislation outlawing cactus in Ireland could be the solution to the thorny issue.
Either that, or repackaging the item with a catchy product name - perhaps something like "Thorny Goat Weed"?
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