Arthritis sufferer grew own cannabis (From South Wales Guardian)

Arthritis sufferer grew own cannabis

1:00pm Thursday 13th December 2012 in News

A POLICE officer checking the garden of an occupied house in Glanaman noticed “the strong smell of cannabis” wafting from a garden shed, Llanelli magistrates were told.

The policeman’s keen sense of smell led to the discovery of 16 cannabis plants, along with electric fans and lighting, the court heard.

Prosecutor Ellie Morgan recounted how – as a result of their discovery at 8 Maes y Glyn – officers subsequently visited a house in nearby Ger Yr Afon where they found a further 33 cannabis plants in another garden shed.

The twin haul led to Ellis Daniel Davies, aged 57, of 7 Ger Yr Afon, being charged with two counts of cannabis production.

He pleaded guilty to both and was given a 12-month community sentence with a supervision requirement.

Prosecutor Ellie Morgan said the offences came to light on September 22. Davies said he lived at Ger Yr Afon and “had some responsibility” for the property at Maes y Glyn.

“I was cultivating cannabis for my own use,” Davies told officers.

“I suffer from arthritis and cannabis alleviates the pain. I’m not a seller of the drug, I’m a user and I hold my hands up to it.”

Davies added that he had set up the twin operation two months previously after “reading up on the Internet how to do it properly”.

Mike Reed, in mitigation, said his client had co-operated fully with police.

“The pain he suffers from is great, but the heavy medication has a lot of side-effects so he decided to use cannabis,” he added.

“There are all sorts of discussions going on over the use of cannabis as a pain-killer.”

Davies was ordered to pay £85 court costs.