Emneth woman Kacey Tinkler used cannabis to help with mental health, court hears

A woman who used cannabis to self-medicate her anxiety and depression has been disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Kacey Tinkler, 21, of Mill Road in Emneth, pleaded guilty to drug-driving when she appeared at King’s Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Stephen Munton, prosecuting, told the court that police officers had reason to stop Tinkler's BMW on Wisbech Road, Walpole St Peter on August 22.

On speaking to Tinkler, officers could smell cannabis and they asked her if she had smoked the drug in the last few days. She confirmed she had.

A test showed she had 9.8mcg of Delta-9-tetradrocannibol, the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis, per litre of blood. The legal limit to drive is 2mcg.

Ruth Johnson, mitigating, said Tinkler has suffered from severe mental health issues including depression and anxiety since she was a young girl. She has been prescribed drugs to help her by her GP.

However, she had been using cannabis to self-medicate.

Magistrates banned Tinkler from driving for 12 months, fined her £219, and ordered her to pay an £88 victim surcharge and £85 in costs.