By CHERIE DONNELLAN
A 69-YEAR-OLD Norlane man grew seven cannabis plants so he would have a supply of marijuana when he moved into a retirement unit, a court has heard.
Geelong Police prosecutor Senior Constable Ian Kerin said officers found the mature plants and one gram of crushed dried cannabis during a raid on Bruce Rae’s Thompson Rd home at 2.40pm on 28 February.
Sen Const Kerin said Rae made admissions to growing the cannabis, saying he grew it to manage pain.
Rae grew the drugs “to last a long time because [he] wouldn’t be able to grow it next year” when he moved into a retirement unit, Send Const Kerin told the court.
Legal Aid lawyer Lisa Smith said Rae had a knee reconstruction and two shoulder injuries, which caused him pain.
His surgeon had prescribed strong pain-killer OxyContin but Rae stopped taking it, Ms Smith said.
She told the court Rae still felt pain, was bedridden and unable to sleep.
A friend of Rae’s told him marijuana would help him sleep at night, she said.
Magistrate Stephen Myall questioned whether a doctor had given Rae advice to use marijuana.
Ms Smith replied: “No, not exactly”.
She said Rae never intended to traffic the cannabis.
Mr Myall noted that Rae had no prior offences.
“It’s very late in life to have contact with the court,” Mr Myall said.
He found Rae guilty without conviction, sentenced him to a 12-month good behaviour bond and ordered him to pay $500 to the court fund.
Mr Myall advised Rae to take an “orthodox approach” for future pain management rather than “self-medicating”.
