Lockyer woman fronts court after dosing pet dogs’ tumours with unprescribed medicinal marijuana

Police initially believed the drugs were for the 49yo herself, until she revealed she had instead sourced the marijuana illegally to treat her pets’ illness.

Nicola Julie William-Bateshas appeared in the Gatton magistrates Court.

When police searched a Lockyer woman’s vehicle, it wasn’t the large knife tucked under the sun visor that caught their attention – it was the small drug stash hidden in a Tupperware container.

Nicola Julie William-Bates was pulled over at Lower Tent Hill on June 11, where police uncovered less than 1g of a herbal mixture containing marijuana and scissors with green residue on the blades.

The Gatton Magistrates Court heard the 49-year-old told officers she fed the “little bit of herbs” to her dogs, explaining they had a tumour that she was trying to treat with natural medicines.

Police prosecutor Narelle Lowe said officers initially thought the Fordsdale woman was under the influence of drugs herself, but the Lockyer woman soon came clean about why she possessed the items.

“The defendant also stated the dogs were on CBD oil to treat the tumour and she didn’t smoke cannabis herself,” Sergeant Lowe said.

A self-represented Williams-Bates was on the verge of tears when explaining her dogs’ condition to the Gatton court.

“I do believe in medicinal cannabis. My dogs are more like support dogs than just pets and I do apologise for breaking the law,” she said.

“Everything I said to the police officer is true.”

She submitted two letters to the court from her veterinarians to support her statements.

Magistrate Kay Ryan conceded the drugs were not for Williams-Bates’ personal use, but issued her a stern warning against further reoffending.

Williams-Bates pleaded guilty to one charge each of possessing dangerous drugs and possessing property suspected of having been used in a drug offence.

She was fined $300 and no conviction was recorded.