11/08/2007 00:00:00
UK: Itchy genitals drove man to grow drug, court hears
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CANNABIS FARMER WANTED RELIEF FROM CHRONIC PAIN
A cannabis farmer was shown mercy by a sheriff yesterday after
explaining he wanted to use the drug to tackle the pain of itchy genitals.
Hapless Gregor Spalding, 30, was caught growing the plants by police who
happened to be in his home looking for someone else.
The officers picked up a strong smell of cannabis and Spalding led them
to a cupboard where he had set up a small crop of the drug.
Perth Sheriff Court was told that Spalding's "amateurish attempt" to
cultivate cannabis was provoked by chronic pain he had suffered for
three years. He told the court that his problems were caused by constant
itching around his genitals and prescribed painkillers had not been
effective.
Spalding said he wanted to try cannabis as a painkiller having read
stories about other people who had used it to counter chronic pain.
Spalding, of Croft Court, Blairgowrie, admitted producing cannabis at
his home in Perthshire on April 15 this year.
Solicitor Mike Tavendale said: "He has been prescribed all manner of
painkillers but none have had any effect. Out of desperation he resolved
to try cannabis after reading about the lady in Orkney who had, been
producing it for herself.
"He read about it on the internet He obtained seeds and bought a lamp.
He had not been growing it long. They were about a foot high.
"He is a first offender. He simply didn't want to get into a position
where he was buying drugs from someone else."
The court was told that Spalding, who is single and studying to become a
computer network engineer, had now been referred to Ninewells Hospital
in Dundee.
Sheriff Derek Livingston said: "It does strike me that this isn't a case
where someone is growing the plant to supply it to others.
"It was a stupid amateurish attempt I am prepared to give you a chance.
"As long as it remains proscribed, you cannot grow cannabis plants in
your house."
He deferred sentence for six months for Spalding to be of good
behaviour, and assured him that if he was he would be treated "leniently".
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12782
Author:
The Press & Journal: Aberdeen via UKCIA
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