Shannon Anthony Hudson claims his cannabis crop was ‘put there by God’

A man busted with a cannabis crop at his Central Queensland home has defended his actions, saying: “I’m not a criminal - I grew some plants that God gave us... in God’s eyes, I’ve done nothing wrong.”

Shannon Anthony Hudson faced Yeppoon Magistrates Court on December 7.

A man busted with a cannabis crop at his Central Queensland home has defended his actions, saying: “In God’s eyes, I’ve done nothing wrong.”

Shannon Anthony Hudson, 41, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on December 7 to producing, possessing and supplying cannabis.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Darrell Dalton said on September 21, police went to Hudson’s Emu Park Road residence, where behind a water tank they found 10 cannabis plants growing in pots.

Sgt Dalton said police also saw CCTV cameras at the residence and they further found a hydroponic grow tent in a shed at the property, as well as 12 clip-seal bags and two glass jars containing cannabis.

Sgt Dalton said police also found cannabis and cannabis seeds in various rooms of the house including the kitchen and a bedroom.

The court heard the total amount of cannabis found at the residence was 610g.

Sgt Dalton said Hudson initially told police the cannabis plants were “put there by God” but later he said the plants were his.

“He (Hudson) stated, in relation to the hydroponic setup, that he was experimenting,” Sgt Dalton said.

The prosecutor said Hudson told police that he had recently purchased the cannabis seeds to make cannabis oil for his father who had cancer.

The court heard the supply charge related to Hudson supplying his dad and the prosecution said there was no commerciality alleged.

The court was told that Hudson had a two-page criminal history which primarily had drug offending on it.

Shannon Anthony Hudson

A self-represented Hudson tendered character references and he made a submission to Acting Magistrate Michael Bice.

Hudson told Mr Bice that the police officers who attended his residence “knew what they were going there for.”

Mr Bice replied: “Well obviously they had some intel.”

Hudson continued with his submission, saying: “If marijuana is such a dangerous drug, why does 24 per cent of our population now receive it in the mail? - no doctor’s prescription, they just get a prescription online by saying ‘I have anxiety or I have back pain’.

“My father is terminally ill with cancer... he doesn’t have long to go.

“He can’t afford the medicinal (marijuana) - I certainly can’t because I’m supporting him, I’m supporting my partner, I’m supporting her daughter.”

At that point, Mr Bice told Hudson that his dad could go to a doctor and get a script to allow him to take medicinal cannabis and Hudson stressed “he can’t afford it.”

Hudson said he came to the conclusion that he would just plant a couple of seeds, to which Mr Bice replied: “It’s a bit more than a couple of seeds, my friend. I’m curious to know why you had 610g on your premises.”

Hudson said: “To extract the oil you need a quantity and there is a lot of waste product there.

“If I’m not at work, I’m at home in the garden - it’s what I like doing.

“I’m not a criminal - I grew some plants that God gave us.

“And if I may refer to Genesis 1:29. ‘And God said, see I have given you every herb that you’ll seed which is on the face of the Earth, and every tree with fruit you’ll seed - this is for you’.”

Hudson then added: “In God’s eyes, I’ve done nothing wrong.”

Mr Bice thanked Hudson for his submission and said he took into account the circumstances surrounding the supply charge.

“But these charges are very serious,” Mr Bice said.

“You’re very close to going to the District Court in relation to these and the quantity (of cannabis) scares me - 610g, that’s a very high quantity.”

Mr Bice also noted that Hudson had five previous convictions between 2001 and 2014.

“I need to give you a general and personal deterrent, so that it sends a clear message to all those in the community that are like-minded like yourself, that you can’t do it,” Mr Bice said.

“And if you continue to do it, you’ll end up in prison.”

Mr Bice sentenced Hudson to nine months’ jail, wholly suspended for two years, and convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Shannon Anthony Hudson claims his cannabis crop was ‘put there by God’