Warwick drugs charge dropped

Warwick was charged with marijuana possession

Soul singer Dionne Warwick has had a drugs charge against her dropped after she had treatment to determine whether she had a drug problem.

The performer, who sang hits like Walk On By, was arrested in May after baggage screeners at Miami International Airport said they found 11 suspected marijuana cigarettes in a lipstick container.

To this day, I am puzzled about exactly what happened at the Miami International Airport

Dionne Warwick

But the state of Florida has dropped a misdemeanour charge of marijuana possession after she completed a programme to give first-time offenders a second chance.

Warwick's attorney said the singer had a medical evaluation that "confirmed that she does not have a drug problem".

The singer, who is the cousin of Whitney Houston, was also ordered to make a public service announcement "warning our youth about drug abuse", according to Ed Griffith, spokesman for the Miami-Dade County State Attorney.

Warwick, 61, continued to deny that she deliberately tried to smuggle drugs through the airport on her way to a flight to Los Angeles.

A police report said she was not under the influence of drugs at the time.

Warwick has won five Grammy awards in her career

"Entertainers are sometimes placed in vulnerable situations which are completely beyond their control," Warwick said in a statement.

"To this day, I am puzzled about exactly what happened at the Miami International Airport, but through the grace of God I can now put this unpleasant chapter behind me."

"I look forward to continuing to do what I do best and that is to bring joy to the lives of people through my music and to continue my charitable work for those in greatest need."

The pre-trial programme which Warwick took part in and that led to the charge being dropped was supposed to let first-time offenders "undo their mistakes", Mr Griffin said.

Warwick has won five Grammy awards in her 40-year career, and has had hits with songs including I Say a Little Prayer, Anyone Who Had a Heart and Do You Know the Way to San Jose?

In 1968, she became the first black female performer to perform in front of Queen Elizabeth II in London. She also served as a US ambassador for health issues during the 1980s.

She has also been an active supporter of Aids charities, and has been a spokeswoman for the Psychic Friends Network.