Joshua Graham Dallas pleads guilty in Toowoomba Magistrates Court to producing, possessing dangerous drugs

Using cannabis to treat anxiety and depression, a 29-year-old put ‘some effort’into his hydroponic growhouse to produce cannabis for personal use.

A security guard established a hydroponic growhouse, complete with pumps, lights and fans, to grow his own cannabis to treat his mental health conditions, a court has been told.

Joshua Graham Dallas faced Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to producing dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing property used in connection with a drug offence and possessing drug utensils.

Police executed a search warrant on the 29-year-old’s Helidon address on March 19, 2022 where the growhouse was found.

Conceding that while the production of cannabis was not for a commercial purpose, police prosecutor Anita Page said “some effort” had been put into establishing the hydroponic, which was said to have grown cannabis from July 1 to December 31, 2021.

Joshua Graham Dallas, 29, faced Toowoomba Magistrates Court for a number of drug offences, where he was fined but avoided having convictions recorded against him.

“The plants produced were for the sole purpose of personal use, and the defendant did make some admissions and assisted police once the search warrant was carried out,” Ms Page said.

“There was some effort put into the growhouse set up, there were timers, fans, water pumps, lights, hoses, chemicals for pH readings and dried plants in a shed.”

Dallas’ solicitor Stuart Percy said his client was using the cannabis to treat his depression and anxiety, but since his property was raided he had spoken to his doctor and is now on alternative medication.

Due to be married next month, with his first child due before Christmas, Mr Percy said Dallas was supported by his fiancee and was also caring for her three children.

Mr Percy told the court his client had worked for more than 10 years in the security industry.

Magistrate Kay Philipson warned Dallas to avoid future drug offending as he may face more severe penalties.

Dallas was fined $1200, referred to SPER, with no conviction recorded.