Vicky Togo: Tweed Heads South grandmother busted farming medicinal cannabis

A Northern Rivers grandmother has learnt a harsh lesson finding herself on the wrong side of the law after being busted for possessing an illicit drug for medicinal use.

A Northern Rivers grandmother has had her “sophisticated” hydroponic cannabis tent busted after police searched her home.

Vicky Togo, 58, pleaded guilty to possessing about 50ml of cannabis oil and cultivating a cannabis plant at her Tweed Heads South residence.

Court documents reveal upon attending Togo’s residence, police knocked on the door several times to no answer and smelt the pungent odour of cannabis emitting from the ground floor compartment of the house within the garage.

Police observed a hydroponic cannabis grow tent within the garage through a small hole in the wall and then issued a search warrant.

Police located a black indoor hydroponic cultivation growing tent with one plant under one metre and five seedlings.

Inside was an exhaust fan, charcoal filter, two UV lights, fans and transformers.

Next to the tent, police also found fertiliser and chemicals.

Togo complied with the search warrant and admitted to cultivating cannabis, saying she obtains the oil for personal use from people who live in the bush.

At Tweed Heads Local Court on September 12, magistrate Geoff Dunlevy recognised that some people can use some forms of cannabis for some conditions and that it was concerning people were bypassing that process.

“Cannabis, to my understanding, can increase anxiety and depression,” he said.

“It’s very important if you feel cannabis medicine is important that you speak to a doctor and get legally obtained cannabis.”

Agreed police facts noted Togo did not smoke cannabis and had not previously held a conviction.

Mr Dunlvey opted not to record a conviction against her name based on the quantity of cannabis oil, and the intent was for personal use only.

Originally published as Vicky Togo: Tweed Heads South grandmother busted farming medicinal cannabis