The Juaso Circuit Court, presided over by Mr. Fredrick Tetteh, has ordered a farmer to be held in police custody for growing marijuana right inside the North Fomanso Forest Reserve.

Yaw Asante had cut down some Cinderella trees in the reserve to cultivate the illegal herb - used as a psychoactive drug.

He is facing charges of entering the reserve without authority, causing unlawful damage and cultivation of narcotic drug.

The accused pleaded not guilty and would make his next appearance on Monday, November 16.

Police Detective Sergeant Princeton Peasah Darkwah told the court that the illicit marijuana farm was discovered by a forest guard during routine patrol of the reserve on August 1.

The guard officially reported this to the District Manager of the Forest Services Division (FSD) and he was arrested and handed over to the police.

The prosecution said samples of the herb had been sent for forensic laboratory test.