Pot grower's pain relief excuse accepted

Glenn Charles Ferguson, of Masterton, appeared in Masterton District Court earlier this week and pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis and theft.

A judge has accepted a 61-year-old man was growing more than $10,000 worth of marijuana for pain relief.

Glenn Charles Ferguson, of Masterton, appeared in Masterton District Court earlier this week and pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis and theft.

Prosecuting sergeant Garry Wilson said, on November 5, police searched Ferguson's home, shared with his partner and a 10-year-old child, and found a sophisticated cannabis growing operation in the garage.

Eight mature cannabis plants, about 50cm in height, and each with their own heating and fan system, were being grown in four separate growing stations.

The cannabis was being grown using a technique described in a step-by-step process, in a book titled, The Secrets of The West Coast Masters- Uncover The Ultimate Techniques For Growing Medical Marijuana.

The total weight of the cannabis, from the eight plants, was 7661 grams, estimated to be worth about $10,500.

Police also discovered that the power meter at Ferguson's home had been tampered with and re-wired to allow the electricity used in the grow room to bypass the meter.

An electrical inspector determined Ferguson had been bypassing the power for at least seven weeks and said about $816 worth of power had been used, unmetered.

Ferguson said he had been growing the cannabis for his use, for pain relief.

Defence lawyer Ian Hard said Ferguson had several ongoing medical conditions.

"This was out of desperation and the need to self-medicate.

"He was on 90 grams of morphine daily and that wasn't doing it for him, he has intense back and neck pain ... he didn't want to be loaded up with a large amount of morphine."

Judge Chris Tuohy said Ferguson's claim he was growing the cannabis for pain relief was supported by a letter from his doctor.

"That letter indicates that you have an extensive list of medical problems ... in particular you have chronic pain relating to your lower back, you also have a head injury which has an ongoing impact on your thinking process."

Judge Tuohy said he accepted Ferguson was growing the cannabis for his own pain relief.

He convicted Ferguson, fined him $1500, and ordered him to pay $816 in reparations to the electricity company.