An artist who was growing more than $100,000 worth of marijuana to pay the rent on his studio also planned to use the roots in his art.
Richard Chan was busted with 228 cannabis plants found in three separate growing rooms in his London St studio on August 21 last year.
Police searched the premises and found the concealed growing rooms, Judge David Cameron said in Whanganui District Court on Tuesday.
"As an artist he wished to use the roots to make Chinese paper," the judge said.
Chan, 65, also told police he planned to sell some of the plants to pay for the rent on the studio.