Rep. Watson Arrested In So. Kingstown For Pot Possession

State representative Bob Watson, R-30, of East Greenwich, was arrested Saturday night for possession of marijuana in South Kingstown after police got a tip about an erratic driver.

Watson, in Connecticut for driving while intoxicated and marijuana possession, has said that he smoked marijuana for pain relief. , which would allow him to possess and use small amounts of the drug.

According to Lt. William Buckley of South Kingstown Police, a plow operator clearing the parking lot of the Washington County Veterinary Hospital on Tower Hill Road notified them that a car with a flat tire almost struck him.

When police arrived, they found a white Volvo with the license plate RW 23 and the driver's side front tire missing from its rim.

The driver was identified as Robert Watson. According to Buckley, police saw a pipe of the type often used to smoke marijuana on the floor of the front driver's side. In addition, police found a clear plastic sandwich bag containing what turned out to be marijuana near the driver's seat.

Watson, who was alone, was charged with possessing marijuana, first offense. He was processed at the police station and released with a summons to appear in Fourth District Court on Feb. 2 at 9 a.m. Possession of marijuana is a misdemeanor.