Peter John Waalkes in court for drugs

A former machine operator has been given a prescription for medicinal cannabis, but not before he was busted with an unprescribed stash.

Peter John Waalkes pleaded guilty to one count of possessing dangerous drugs when he faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Thursday.

A man busted with more than 780 grams of cannabis said he was using the drug to treat his back pain.

Peter John Waalkes, 61, pleaded guilty to possessing a dangerous drug and possessing drug utensils when he faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Police prosecutor Sonia Edwards said on October 26, police executed a search warrant at Waalkes’ home.

He told police he had cannabis on the premises and removed packages which the officers seized.

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Several other containers with quantities of cannabis and drug utensils used to smoke the substance were also found, Constable Edwards said.

He told officers at the scene he used the cannabis for his back pain.

The court heard no commerciality was alleged regarding the cannabis and it was for Waalkes’ own personal use.

Waalkes had prolapsed discs in his back, the court was told, resulting from periods of employment with machine operation.

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He had also been injured in a car crash and had been in significant pain.

Waalkes had started smoking cannabis to cope with the pain but he had now been prescribed medicinal cannabis, the court heard.

Magistrate Trinity McGarvie said Waalkes had co-operated with the police and had taken steps to remove himself from involvement with drugs by obtaining a prescription for medicinal cannabis.

Waalkes was sentenced to three months in prison, wholly suspended for four months.

A conviction was recorded.