‘Fifty-six cannabis plants in glasshouse’

Press, 18 February 1983, Page 4

‘Fifty-six cannabis plants in glasshouse’

A man who, according to police evidence in the District Court yesterday had 56 cannabis plants, about 6ft (1.829 m tall, growing in a glasshouse, and two books on the cultivation of the marijuana plant, was committed for trial on two drugs charges. The defendant. Graham Randall McNaughton, aged 37, a meat worker, elected trial by jury and denied charges' of cultivating a prohibited plant, cannabis, and of possessing a class Ccontrolled drug, cannabis plant, for sale or.supply. After hearing depositions or statements of evidence of prosecution witnesses. Messrs M. B. Hayes and C. Fisk. Justices of the Peace, held that there was sufficient evidence to commit the defendant for trial on both charges. They remanded him on bail to March 4. pending a date for trial in the District Court. His counsel (Mr P. M. James) reserved his defence. Sergeant J. E. Dwyer prosecuted. Prosecution evidence was given that police, during drug investigations, called at the defendant's house on December 14. He admitted that he had cannabis plants growing, in a glasshouse at the rear of the section. Fifty-six cannabis plants, all about 6ft (1.829 m high, were found growing. In a bedroom, a container with 227 cannabis seeds, and two packages containing cannabis plant and seed head pods, were found. Two books on marijuana growing and use were also in the bedroom. A dried branch of a cannabis plant was found in a garage. The total weight of the plants and packages was 20.3 kilograms. Sergeant T. R. Marshall said that the defendant admitted ownership of the cannabis and books. He said he had got the seeds from a mate whom he did not wish to name. The defendant had said that he planted the cannabis plants in the glasshouse last August, and intended to give them to his mates.