The smell of cannabis hung in the air when police visited a city street known as a "drug dealing hotspot", a court heard.
Officers detained 21-year-old Bryson Thorpe who had a small amount of cannabis in a zip-up bag, said Ben Payne, prosecuting.
A six-month conditional discharge was imposed on Thorpe of Pitcairn Close, The Meadows.
He admitted having cannabis on St Mary's Place on May 16 and must pay £85 prosecution costs with a £20 government surcharge.
Mr Payne told the court: "Officers in a marked police van drove to St Mary's Place which has recently become a drug use and dealing hotspot.
"Officers smelt cannabis and saw on metal railings what they suspected to be a cannabis cigarette. A number of males were searched."
Thorpe, who had never been in trouble before, said he was the last person to arrive before the police van pulled up. Officers insisted on searching him.
He told the court: "He grabbed me and his first mistake was that he thought an afro comb was a knife in my pocket."
Thorpe said he was held in custody for four hours and 30 minutes.
District Judge Leo Pyle said he took into account Thorpe had never been in trouble before.
He ordered the destruction of the drugs and said he must pay £85 prosecution costs and a £20 government surcharge.
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