Ingham Court: Keith Whelan admits to growing cannabis in Bemerside
A man busted cultivating cannabis on his rural North Queensland property for his nightly “choof” has revealed a surprise secret behind growing a health-conscious harvest.
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A man busted cultivating cannabis on his rural North Queensland property for his nightly “choof” has revealed a surprise secret behind growing a health-conscious harvest.
“Chicken shit,” Keith Shayne Whelan, 61, told Ingham Police after he was busted growing weed on his Bemerside property on September 7.
The unemployed electrical fitter and mechanic pleaded guilty in the Ingham Magistrates Court on Thursday to a total of three charges relating to the police raid, namely possession of cannabis and a water pipe, and producing a dangerous drug.
Queensland Police prosecutor Kimberley Rogers-Ford said the police who executed the search warrant recovered 3.3g of dried cannabis, the used marijuana paraphernalia and two potted plants each measuring about 20cm in height.
She said the cannabis plants were found on the roof of a shed.
“He said he grew the cannabis for his personal use, he said he’d been offered a prescription (for medicinal cannabis) but declined as he likes to know exactly what has gone into its production,” she said.
“He said he planted the cannabis in pots and put them on the roof for water when it rained and that he uses a mixture of chicken shit and other ingredients to make the soil so he knows exactly what’s in it and believes this is safer than even the commercially available prescription cannabis.”
Ms Rogers-Ford said Whelan was cooperative with police.
“He made admissions that the green leafy material found in the kitchen was cannabis and made admissions that he has a bit of a choof at night and was adamant that he does not grow it to sell.”
Defence lawyer Rhianna Lee said her client had been unemployed due to knee injuries and was awaiting surgery before he could return to work.
“That is the basis for why he does use cannabis but he does need to get a prescription, he can’t take the matter into his own hands.”
She urged a fine.
Magistrate Scott Luxton agreed with Ms Lee’s submission.
“There is the ability for people in your state to lawfully use cannabis by prescription regime for pain relief and clearly that is an option for you,” he said.
“I would urge you (to) pursue that option.”
Whelan said he would do so.
He was convicted and fined $800.
Originally published as Ingham Court: Keith Whelan admits to growing cannabis in Bemerside
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