Stephen Douglas Cramb grew his own cannabis as medical bud was ‘too expensive’, Warwick court told

A green-thumbed Southern Downs dad revealed to a court the surprising reason he shunned pain medicine and opted to grow his own cannabis.

A Southern Downs dad who was busted growing his own crop of cannabis revealed to a court the bizarre reason he opted to swap pain medicine for the illegal drug.

Stephen Douglas Cramb said he grew cannabis as medical bud was “too expensive” and he didn’t like the side effects of pain medicine, he told Warwick Magistrates Court.

Defence lawyer Clare Hine told the magistrate that Cramb, 59, had a variety of health ailments, including a fall in 2016, which led him to seek treatment for the pain.

“He had been on pain medicine but he didn’t like the side effects … and in 2020 he was prescribed medicinal cannabis but it was quite expensive,” Ms Hine said.

“It became too expensive for him.”

Stephen Douglas Cramb outside Warwick Magistrates Court on January 22, 2024.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve de Lissa told the court the Dalveen dad of two was nabbed on October 26, 2023, in possession of cannabis, scales, a grinder, as well as lamps and chemicals used to grow the plant. In total, the quantity of the drug was “13 immature cannabis plants” kept in a shipping container, with 741.3g of dried cannabis in a container located by police.

Ms Hine said her client was extremely “embarrassed” to end up in front of the magistrate and strongly urged the plant was for solely for personal use.

Cramb pleaded guilty to possession and production of a dangerous drug as well as possession of drug utensils and items used in the commission of crime on Monday, January 22.

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess told the man that she could understand the man’s motivation for the crime, but reminded him the many reasons why he shouldn’t have offended.

“It’s unlawful and there’s no possibility of monitoring by medical professionals,” Ms Sturgess said.

“If you continue down this path you might face more significant penalties like imprisonment.”

Cramb was slapped with a $1200 fine. No convictions were recorded.