A man found growing multiple “bush cannabis” plants in a hydroponic setup beneath his house did it for pain relief, a court has heard.
After two knee reconstructions, a quad bike crash that resulted in 14 broken ribs, a workplace accident and negative side effects from prescribed medication, Gary Donald Gleeson was suffering for considerable and ongoing pain.
Supreme Court Justice Tamara Jago said the 58-year-old was given the cannabis by his late step-mother, who was battling cancer, so he could make cannabis butter for her.
During a police search in 2020, officers found four cannabis seedlings, four plants and $6,000 cash in a wardrobe in a bedroom at Gleeson’s home.
“Police also found in various locations and within various containers, a little over four and a half kilograms of cannabis, some of which was cannabis bud and some of which was cannabis leaf and stem,” Jago said.
During sentencing, Jago said Gleeson has a number of prior convictions for drug offences and emphasised that he clearly “knew the risk of punishment” for his actions.
“Parliament has made cannabis a controlled plant and hence a controlled substance and its possession, save for some heavily regulated exceptions, in any form, for any purpose is illegal,” she said.
“The amount of cannabis you had in your possession was considerable and there is always a risk that such large amounts of cannabis may fall into the wrong hands and find its way into the market.”
Gleeson was fined $3,000, which he must pay in the next 28 days.
“I take into account that you have now consulted with a medical professional and are authorised to possess medicinal cannabis for your pain needs. Therefore the risk of you further offending is minimised in my view,” Jago said.
