Karalee mum Lisa Jean Stone fronts Ipswich court for mega backyard cannabis stash

An Ipswich mum who was busted with 46 cannabis plants in her yard has told a court the stash was solely for her – and her dog’s – personal use.

Karalee mum Lisa Jean Stone (left) with lawyer Shannon Chen leaving Ipswich Court on August 24, 2023. Picture: Nicola McNamara

Police uncovered an “out of control” cannabis stash in an Ipswich mum’s yard, which a court heard she used to self-medicate and make butter for her dog.

Karalee resident Lisa Jean Stone, 46, pleaded guilty in Ipswich Magistrates’ Court to producing dangerous drugs, possessing schedule 2 dangerous drugs of a quantity exceeding schedule 3, and possessing property suspected of having been used in the commission of a drug offence.

The court heard police searched Stone’s Karalee home on April 2 this year.

Throughout the property, they found 46 plants, 1053 grams of cannabis, and a grinder.

The court heard nine plants were growing in pots and ranged from 40cm to 100cm in length.

Ms Payne said police located a further 47 plants in a well-established area of the garden behind some trees, ranging from 180 to 190 cm in height.

Inside the home, they found what appeared to be a cannabis processing table, with containers containing cannabis buds and the 1053 grams of cannabis.

Ms Payne said police further found butter in the fridge containing cannabis, which Stone had said she fed to her dog.

“This is insane to be honest,” Ms Payne told Stone.

“It’s out of control. You’re fortunate that the crown case is that it’s for personal use.”

Defence lawyer Shannon Chen said her client had used the cannabis for pain relief after suffering an injury to her shoulder some years ago.

She said Stone’s 22-year-old son had recently moved back into the home at the time of the search.

Ms Payne said it was a “very slippery slope” to expose a young adult such as her son to cannabis.

“Earlier this week I had two 21-year-olds (come before the court)…. they started on cannabis and within 12 months they were on methamphetamine,” she said.

“Society has an interest in ensuring this sort of thing doesn’t go on so the drug trade is not promoted and young people aren’t getting addicted to it.”

The court heard Stone had no criminal history and had worked with horses for most of her life.

Ms Payne said she accepted the offending was out of character.

“But you need to get a handle on your own cannabis use if you’re producing to that extent to manage your own pain,” she told Stone.

Stone was sentenced to two years of probation, and no convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Karalee mum Lisa Jean Stone fronts Ipswich court for mega backyard cannabis stash