Lewis Jackson Beattie in court for growing, possessing pot

After being medically discharged from the Air Force, Lewis Beattie thought a medical prescription gave him the right to produce drug. Read what police found at his country home.

A 30-year-old Gympie man was fined $2000 on Monday for turned his home into a drug farm.

Lewis Jackson Beattie was caught with 2.43kg of marijuana at his Gympie home, when it was searched by police on May 3, 2021.

Crown prosecutor Annika Fritz said Beattie was found growing an excessive amount cannabis from his home, after police discovered several plants, including one 60cm tall as they entered the house.

“They also located some material such as chemicals in a plant box in the kitchen and the cupboard area, as well as chemicals, soils and fertiliser, which was used in production,” Ms Fritz said.

Police also found an electric grinder, digital scales, a bong and a vaporiser.

Lewis Jackson Beattie was found with more than 2kg of marijuana inside his Gympie home, a court has heard. Photo: Facebook

The court heard Beattie told police he had a prescription for medical marijuana, which he thought entitled him to grow his own plants.

They were for his own use and would have lasted him two years.

Judge Nathan Jarro said Beattie was “very forthcoming” with information to police.

He was given a notice to appear and later failed to show up at the police station to give identifying particulars, such as fingerprints.

Defence lawyer Chris Anderson said his client was in the Air Force from 2010-2015, but was medically discharged.

Gympie District Court heard Lewis Jackson Beattie thought he was entitled to grow his own drugs for personal use with a prescription for medical marijuana.

He said Beattie’s physical health had suffered since leaving the air force, hence the prescription for medical marijuana.

The prescription also helped with stress, Mr Anderson said.

Beattie pleaded guilty to seven charges, including producing a dangerous drug in excess of 500g, possessing property suspected of being used in connection with a drug offence, possessing property suspected of having being used in commission of a drug offence, possessing drug utensils, contravening a police requirement, and two charges of possessing dangerous drugs.

He was fined $2000.

A conviction was not recorded.