An epileptic man from Yarrawonga has been fined after police discovered 16 cannabis plants in his home.
The 41-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of drug possession in Cobram Magistrates Court on November 4. He was arrested back on January 8, when police conducted a raid on his Yarrawonga home.
Sneddon, who suffers from epilepsy, allowed officers to search his home. Police seized 10 grams of dried cannabis and located 16 cannabis plants in the backyard and bedroom. The accused would later explain he had been growing the cannabis plants for five months but “didn’t expect them to grow as big as they did”.
Following the discovery of the plants, the man was arrested and taken to Yarrawonga Police Station, where he explained he had brought the dried cannabis from Melbourne. As he was new to the area, and with no cannabis contacts, he decided to grow his own cannabis. He later told the court he used 3 – 4 grams of cannabis every day as a treatment for his epilepsy.
Magistrate Peter Mithen understood why he was growing cannabis and fined him $500 with no conviction. He was also found to have a Samurai sword in his home, which he was ordered to forfeit, despite arguing it was a present from his mother. Magistrate Mithen told the court:
I understand the samurai was an ornament, but it’s still a weapon.
According to some of the latest figures, 10 grams of cannabis is worth less than $200 in Australia.
