Brent Luke Simpson, creator of The Clink podcast, claims he was providing therapeutic goods, not drugs
An ex-bikie enforcer-turned-podcaster claims he was providing therapeutic goods and not drugs, a court has been told. Read his full explanation
Gold Coast
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An ex-bikie enforcer claims he was providing therapeutic goods and not drugs, a court has been told.
Brent Luke Simpson, who created The Clink podcast, is accused of providing cannabidiol through his online business between March 1 and June 9 last year.
He faced a committal in the Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday, charged with trafficking dangerous drugs and two counts of supplying dangerous drugs.
It was alleged Simpson, a former sergeant at arms for the Bandidos bikie club, and business partner Eden Gall were selling cannabis oil online through their business Releaf Therapy.
Simpson’s lawyer Michael McMillan, of Mark Savic Legal, said the substances found during police raids in June last year were “not dangerous” and cannabidiol was only found in small amounts.
“It’s a fatal flaw of the prosecution case because clearly they cannot get a purity level (of cannabidiol),” he said.
Mr McMillan said cannabidiol was a derivative of cannabis and under federal law had been approved for medicinal use in small amounts.
He said because the levels of cannabidiol were not detected by police they “had to be therapeutic”.
Mr McMillan also referred to Instagram comments in which Simpson stated the product sold by Releaf Therapy was “purely CBD” and did not contain THC – the substance found in cannabis which produces a high.
Prosecutor Andreea Iordache said police had audio recordings of Simpson speaking to potential customers, which showed he knew the drug may not have been legal.
She said he asked one: “Are you happy CBD is being legalised.”
Magistrate Gary Finger found there was enough evidence for Simpson to go to trial.
“Ultimately, these are jury issues and they should be left to a properly instructed jury,” he said.
He ordered the matter be committed to the Supreme Court in Brisbane for a date to be determined.
Gall is still before the courts.
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