Virginia judge gets 30 days for growing pot

James H. Allamong Jr. a substitute judge in Shenandoah Court in Virginia has been sentenced to thirty days in jail for growing marijuana on his property.

The prominent local attorney and substitute judge was sentenced after a plea bargain that reduced the charges from a felony to a misdemeanor. Allamong admitted to possessing marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Allamong was sentenced in a courtroom in Woodstock by judge Paul Sheridan who also fined Allamong $500, placed him on probation for two years, and ordered him to carry out 200 hours of community service. Allamong's troubles date back to a shed fire on his property.

Scott Proctor of the Shenandoah County Sheriff's office said:

" "A large number" of marijuana plants were found growing on his property at 1817 Copp Road when firefighters responded to a fire at a nearby outbuilding there Monday afternoon...Firefighters on the scene reported that they noticed what appeared to be several marijuana plants next to the structure that was on fire."

Proctor claimed the street value of the marijuana was estimated to be more than $150,000.

However Allamong claims that the marijuana was for his personal use. Allamong says he smokes marijuana because of pain he has from injuries dating back to the Vietnam war. He said:"That's the only reason I had the stuff. Obviously, I wish I had an opportunity to go another way, where you can get medicinal marijuana in Virginia, but that's not an option. I was wounded in Vietnam from a severe concussion blast and had severe joint and hip problems that just are debilitating."

After the shed fire Allamong consented to a search of his property. A large number of plants and a small amount of processed marijuana was found. Given the large amount of marijuana Allamong was charged with possession with intent to manufacture and distribute marijuana. Maybe he just needed a lot of marijuana for a lot of pain!