Tasmanian builder Adam George King fined for growing cannabis, possessing steroids

A Tasmanian builder caught growing cannabis out of a shipping container that had been buried into the side of a hill said he grew the drugs to ease his back pain. DETAILS >

A Tasmanian builder caught growing cannabis out of a shipping container that had been buried into the side of a hill to hide it said he grew the drugs to ease his back pain.

When police searched Adam George King’s home on March 8, 2022, the builder showed officers to a grow room fashioned out of a shipping container.

The container had been buried into the ground on the side of a hill in an effort to hide the illegal operation.

Hobart Magistrates Court was told that 20 plants were found inside the “sophisticated set up”.

Four vials of steroids were also found in the search.

Adam George King was sentenced in Hobart Magistrates Court for growing cannabis and possession of steroids.

King pleaded guilty to one count of cultivating controlled plant (minor offence), one count of possess a controlled plant or its products (minor offence), and one count of possess a controlled drug.

The court was told King – a builder – suffered from “chronic” neck and back pain after a crash in 2007, and that he had been using cannabis to relieve his pain.

This submission was supported in a letter by King’s doctor, stating that King had chronic neck and lumbar pain.

It was heard King legally sought out prescriptions for medicinal cannabis in September 2022 – six months after the police search.

“The reality is you were aware you could have sought that medicinal cannabis and you should have explored that option earlier, rather than go to the substantial effort you did …,” a magistrate told King in sentencing.

“The amount of effort you put in to do that appears fairly significant in my view.”

The magistrate said he noted King had gone to “great lengths” to conceal his illegal conduct.

King was heard to have no prior convictions for drugs and was said to have been “unsuitable” for community service due to his back issues.

King was ordered to pay $2500.

Convictions were recorded.