Man fronts court over 1.5kg+ homegrown weed stash on rural Stanthorpe property

The man had already been given a medicinal marijuana prescription for his chronic pain, but claimed its steep cost forced the green thumb to grow his own secret stash in Stanthorpe instead.

IN COURT: The man pleaded guilty to growing marijuana on his property in the Stanthorpe area. Picture: Peter Clark / News Regional Media

A man who was busted with a low-level marijuana operation on his rural Southern Downs property has claimed he was forced into growing the stash by the steep price of his medicinal prescription.

The Warwick District Court heard police raided Wayne John Parnell’s property in the Stanthorpe area on May 19 last year, where they found 16 marijuana plants growing in a greenhouse tent.

Crown prosecutor Zachary Kaplan said the plants weighed 902g with roots removed, and police uncovered another 857g of marijuana in addition to lights, fans, scales, and other drug paraphernalia.

“(Parnell) stated at the time that the drug was being produced for his own personal use,” Mr Kaplan said.

The prosecutor added police also uncovered an air rifle and a billy club in a cupboard in the 59-year-old’s bedroom, which was not considered secure storage for weapons not in use.

Parnell’s defence barrister said the man was prescribed medicinal marijuana for chronic back, shoulder, and elbow pain caused by 30 years as a concreter, but struggled to afford the legal prescription.

He said his client reported the drug cost $140 for 5g at the time, with Parnell prescribed 2g per day.

“There’s certainly no commerciality. It’s a medicinal cannabis matter, and he’d already gone to the trouble of getting a prescription and realised it was too expensive,” he said.

“He has no prior relevant convictions … and he’s embarrassed by having to live in his community where he’s held in high regard by others with a drug conviction.”

The court heard Parnell purchased the air rifle as an active member of a shooting club in Coolum, where he lived to care for his elderly parents, and had taken the billy club with it and other possessions when visiting his Stanthorpe property.

Parnell pleaded guilty to one count each of producing a dangerous drug in excess of 500g and possessing a dangerous drug in excess of 500g.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing used drug paraphernalia, failing to securely store a weapon, and possessing or acquiring restricted items.

Parnell was fined $1000 and no conviction was recorded.