Former Sunshine Coast construction worker Dean Anthony Matthews, 45, grew marijuana plants to relieve his Huntington’s disease health impacts

A marijuana producer who formerly worked building skyrises at the Sunshine Coast now battles daily with a degenerative genetic disease which six other men in his family have.

A marijuana producer who use to work building skyrises at the Sunshine Coast now battles daily with a degenerative genetic disease which six other men in his family have, including one now in palliative care.

Dean Anthony Matthews, 45, told Magistrate Cameron Press that living with Huntington’s disease was “not very nice”.

Matthews pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on January 13 to one count of producing marijuana, one of possessing marijuana and one of possessing drug utensils.

Dean Anthony Matthews, 45, pleaded guilty on January 13 to one count of producing marijuana, one of possessing marijuana and one of possessing drug utensils.

Police prosecutor Stacey Bain said the charges arose from a search at Matthews’s Monto residence on June 12, 2021.

She said after police arrived, they observed Matthews drive up the street and after seeing police he accelerated, driving away from the residence.

He was located after parking the car at the rear of the property and jumping the fence.

Ms Bain said Matthews declared he had illegal items in his bedroom.

Police located a bong made out of a sauce bottle and eight grams of marijuana leaf and seeds in the bedroom.

They found three bags of marijuana, weighing 1.28kg, in a freezer on the outdoor patio along with two marijuana plants – one 40cm tall and the other one metre tall – and eight seedlings in the backyard.

Inside a hat, police found two clip-seal bags containing seven grams of marijuana and three seeds.

Police searched the kitchen and found 32g of marijuana in a bowl.

Ms Bain said Matthews told police he “had never seen any of those items in his life”.

Matthews was on a 15-month probation order at the time for possessing marijuana and drug utensils.

His six-page criminal record included being sentenced for drug possession to 15-months prison with immediate parole in Brisbane Supreme Court in November 2018.

Defence lawyer Richard Parks said Matthews had been diagnosed with Huntington’s disease while he was working on high-rise construction sites in the Sunshine Coast area more than eight years ago.

Dean Anthony Matthews, 45, is living with Huntington’s disease.

He said his father, who was “very sick and may not survive” was now in palliative care in Townsville and was the first in the family to be diagnosed.

Mr Parks said when his client realised he was having memory issues, he sought medical assistance and was also diagnosed with Huntington’s.

“He lost his job as he couldn’t remember many aspects required for his work,” he said.

Huntington’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association website, is a progressive brain disorder caused by a defective gene which leads to brain changes that cause abnormal involuntary movements, a severe decline in thinking and reasoning skills, irritability, depression and other mood changes.

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Mr Parks said Matthews, who attended Townsville High School until year 11, had four younger brothers – all have now been diagnosed with Huntington’s.

He said Matthews started using drugs when he was 15 years old and “went significantly downhill” using drugs after his father’s diagnosis and used marijuana to get through the bad health days brought on by Huntington’s.

Mr Parks said Matthews had been on a disability pension since losing his job in construction and relocated to Monto four years ago.

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Matthews obtained NDIS two years ago and now has five carers assisting him five days a week.

Mr Parks said Matthews had recently obtained a prescription for medical marijuana and suffered with depression and anxiety because of the impact Huntington’s had on his life.

Mr Press sentenced Matthews to 12 months’ prison with immediate parole.