Matthew Verran in court over ongoing marijuana enterprise at Seaford Rise

A passionate cannabis oil maker’s ongoing enterprise was exposed by the fire department after an explosion at his clandestine lab left him hospitalised.

A marijuana “devotee” has avoided jail after he blew up his lab and suffered serious burns in his mission to produce cannabis oil.

Matthew John Verran, 39, was told he was lucky to not have been killed after he took his passion for medicinal marijuana into his own hands.

The Adelaide District Court on Thursday heard the Metropolitan Fire Service attended a Seaford Rise property on October 29, 2019, after reports of a fire and explosions in the back shed.

“You were removed from the premises and taken to hospital, suffering from serious burns and smoke inhalation,” Judge Anthony Allen said during sentencing.

Police were called and found two mature marijuana plants and 29 small plants, which were uncharged.

They also found used butane gas canisters and equipment to make cannabis oil, as well

as 481g of dried marijuana and 120g of cannabis oil at Verran’s Noarlunga Downs address.

Verran, of Christies Downs, pleaded guilty to manufacturing a controlled drug and cultivating controlled plants for supply.

Matthew Verran was handed a suspended sentence for manufacturing cannabis oil. Picture: Facebook

“Yours is unusual offending, it has its genesis in your long-term self medication with cannabis oil,” Judge Allen said.

Judge Allen said it was evident by the set-up it was an ongoing enterprise.

“It is apparent that you are something of a devotee to the medicinal qualities of cannabis,” he said.

“I am told you are unable to sleep without the assistance of cannabis oil.”

The court heard Verran worked for a gardening company and was seeking professional help for his medical issues.

Judge Allen sentenced Verran to two years and two months jail, with a non-parole period of 14-months.

“The inherent risk and dangers arising from clandestine drug manufacturing is self evident in your case,” he said.

“It is fortunate that you were not even more seriously injured or killed as a consequence of what occurred.”

The sentence was suspended on a $500 two-year good behaviour bond, with supervision for 12 months.

“You were not motivated by profit and it would seem that the substantial motivation behind your offending arises from your self medication, together with the belief that you were assisting others with the medicinal qualities of cannabis,” Judge Allen said.