Poowong man grows cannabis plants to treat his arthritis
A South Gippsland man busted with 10 cannabis plants and a Kalashnikov .22 rim-fire rifle with a scope says he planned to make oil to treat aches and pains by “following steps on Google” and used the gun to control vermin on his rural property.
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A Poowong man who was busted with 10 large cannabis plants on his rural property, argued he was growing the drugs to treat his arthritis.
David Draper, 61, pleaded guilty in the Korumburra Court to cultivating a narcotic plant, namely cannabis, and possessing a longarm without having a licence.
The court heard that police raided the rural property on March 26.
The only occupant on the property at the time was Mr Draper’s 16-year-old daughter who contacted her dad who returned home from work.
Police found three large cannabis plants on Mr Draper’s driveway, seven mature cannabis plants behind a large shed, and several shotguns, a Kalashnikov .22 rim-fire rifle with a scope, and ammunition.
Mr Draper told the police he “had [the] seeds for years” and was “hoping to make cannabis oil, but apparently you need more plants than that”.
Mr Draper’s lawyer Tegan Murley said the “hardworking and well regarded man” suffers from arthritis and was hoping to extract oil from the cannabis plants to treat his “aches and pains”.
The court heard he was going to do this by “following steps on Google”.
Ms Murley said the cannabis plants on Mr Draper’s driveway were “hiding in plain sight”.
“It was opportunistic offending and he was always going to get caught,” Ms Murley said.
In a statement to police Mr Draper said he kept firearms on his property in order to control vermin.
Magistrate Studham said her concerns were that the firearms were not secured appropriately and they could be stolen from the property.
“The issue is unlawful entry to his house and the taking of those firearms and what happens with burglaries on rural properties,” Magistrate Studham said.
“Rural properties are targeted for this very reason, that firearms are not stored securely and used for illegal activity”.
Magistrate Studham said Mr Draper was “given credit for his good character” but she had to “send a message to the community”.
Mr Draper was ordered to pay a $2500 fine and his three firearms were confiscated.
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