OTTAWA — A pot-smoking Mountie from New Brunswick who gained national attention for his public use of the drug now stands charged with assaulting a peace officer.

Fredericton public safety spokeswoman Alycia Morehouse said Cpl. Ron Francis was arrested Friday afternoon after police tried to check up on him.

"Fredericton Police Force responded to a request from the RCMP for assistance," Morehouse said.

RCMP spokeswoman Const. Jullie Rogers-Marsh said Friday's visit was to make sure Francis was OK.

"We were certainly concerned for his well-being and wanted to speak with him when the incident occurred," Rogers-Marsh said.

Morehouse said a judge may order Francis to undergo a psychiatric exam.

The RCMP took his uniforms away last month and placed him on leave after he made national headlines for smoking marijuana while wearing his ceremonial red uniform.

He's been prescribed marijuana to deal with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.