Kai Philip Murgatroyd pleads guilty to drug possession in Bundaberg court

A court has heard how a Bundaberg man baked cannabis infused cakes and breads from dozens of home-grown plants after legitimate prescriptions proved too expensive.

A man who grew his own marijuana plants to top up his expensive, legitimate supply of medicinal cannabis has been sentenced in Bundaberg District Court.

Kai Philip Murgatroyd pleaded guilty to one count of producing a dangerous drug in excess of 500g, two counts of possessing utensils that had been used, two charges of authority required to possess explosives and one of possessing dangerous drugs.

Murgatroyd’s charges stemmed from a police search warrant executed on his Thabeban home on August 3, 2021.

The court heard the 36-year-old Darwin-born man had previously served time in prison and had a history of offending, including around cannabis.

Crown Prosecutor Steven Dickson presented the court with photos of hydroponic equipment within a backyard shed belonging to Murgatroyd and fireworks found in his possession which formed the basis of the explosives charges.

“Cannabis is a dangerous drug because it is a substance that can cause or exacerbate mental health conditions,” he said.

Mr Dickson said that inside the shed there were 53 plants of various ages and 1.35kg of mixed cannabis material containing seeds, buds and stems.

Kai Philip Murgatroyd was sentenced in the Bundaberg District Court.

The plants had been nurtured in grow tents with fans and lighting.

Murgatroyd admitted to growing the plants and Mr Dickson said the Crown did not contest that the defendant was using the drug for his own use.

Police also found a grinder and a large bong.

Defence barrister Simone Bain said Murgatroyd had suffered a number of conditions including diabetes and had the support of family who were present in court.

“He had been using the cannabis to supplement the prescription medication,” she said.

“...he would chop it up and cook it into some kind of bread or cake.”

Ms Bain said her client first had a depression and anxiety diagnosis 10 years ago and had been seeing a counsellor.

She said he would proceed in the future by using legitimate medical resources if needed.

Judge John Rackemann said Murgatroyd had co-operated with police and made an early plea of guilty and accepted that the drug was for personal use only.

Murgatroyd was sentenced to 12 months’ prison for the count of producing a dangerous drug in excess of 500g and convicted but not further punished for the subsequent charges.

He was granted immediate parole with 130 days of pre-sentence custody declared.