Rockhampton mum pleads guilty to supplying marijuana to daughter

The Rockhampton mother, who has her own drug issues, supplied her young daughter with marijuana so she didn’t source if from ‘nefarious individuals’.

The woman pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Rockhampton on July 26 to one count each of supplying dangerous drugs to a minor under 16 years, possessing dangerous drugs, permit use of place, and possessing utensils or pipes that had been used. FILE PHOTO

A Rockhampton mother of five supplied her 13-year-old daughter with marijuana to reduce behavioural issues linked to her daughter’s diagnosis of ADHD, a court has heard.

The woman, who cannot be named due to legal reasons, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Rockhampton on July 26 to one count each of supplying dangerous drugs to a minor under 16 years, possessing dangerous drugs, permit use of place, and possessing utensils or pipes that had been used.

The court heard police attended an address in North Rockhampton on May 26, 2020, to execute a search warrant in relation to dangerous drugs.

Justice Graeme Crow said the defendant told police there were drugs and drug utensils in the home and pointed out a water pipe, glass pipe, and small amount of methamphetamine.

Justice Crow said the defendant’s daughter also pointed out a water pipe in the bin.

He said the defendant told police she did not smoke marijuana and that both water pipes belonged to her daughter.

“When questioned about your daughter’s marijuana use, you admitted to police to getting marijuana and chopping it up for your daughter so she could smoke it,” he said.

“Police asked when you had most recently done this for your daughter, and you said two or three days ago.

“You said your daughter would smoke marijuana in her bedroom or kitchen area.”

Crown prosecutor C Keast said the main aggravating feature in the case was the “parental relationship”.

Barrister Jordan Ahlstrand said his client, who was the mother of five children, was cooperative with police and made admissions to supplying her daughter with marijuana.

Mr Ahlstrand said his client supplied marijuana to her daughter to avoid the potential for her daughter to procure it from and consume it with “nefarious individuals” in the Rockhampton community.

He said his client claimed marijuana assisted in “diminishing” behavioural issues with her daughter’s ADHD.

He tendered a report to the court by a doctor that provided evidence of the daughter’s diagnosis of ADHD, behavioural issues, and learning difficulties.

The court heard the report did not support the use of marijuana.

Mr Ahlstrand said there was no commerciality to his client’s offending.

He said his client had enrolled in a Drug ARM program in May to address her own drug use.

Justice Crow said the defendant’s offending was serious and that parents had a duty to their children to raise them.

“There are enough difficulties in the world for children, let alone exposing children to drugs,” he said.

“We have just expanded the Capricornia Correctional Centre; we will need to build a bigger one soon if people are going to introduce their children to consuming drugs.”

The woman was ordered to probation for 15 months with criminal convictions recorded.