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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A man who voluntarily offered 20 grams of marijuana to police when they knocked on his door was fined $800 in territorial court on Thursday.

The 50-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of possession after the RCMP responded to a domestic disturbance at a Yellowknife residence on Dec. 11. At the time, the man was "extremely drunk," according to Crown prosecutor Maryse Nassar.

Police arrived at the residence, announced their presence and asked to come inside. The man then "announced to the RCMP" he was in possession of the marijuana, said Nassar.

Police arrested him and seized the 20 grams of marijuana he had in his pocket.

"He wanted to cut to the chase and didn't want (the RCMP) to find it on him," said defence attorney Jay Bran of why the man offered the drugs to police.

The Crown requested 30 days in jail for the man, who has a criminal record with drug-related convictions dating back to 1985.

"I just don't want to go to jail," he said when addressing the court.

"You don't want to go to jail and yet you continue to break the law," Chief Judge Brian Bruser replied. "That's a problem."

Nassar said there were small children in the home, which was an aggravating factor. Bruser said there was no evidence to suggest the man had smoked the drugs around the children or that they even knew he had it in his possession.

He was given six months to pay the fine of $800.

"No more of this illegal activity," Bruser told the man.