Exeter Magistrates Court

Cannabis grower shown leniency

Thursday, October 4, 2012
11:00 AM

Nine cannabis plants seized by police.

A man found growing his own cannabis turned to drugs following the death of his parents, a court has heard.

James William Hayden Bull, of Waggs Plot, Colston, appeared for sentencing at Central Devon Magistrates’ Court in Exeter after pleading guilty to producing the class B drug.

He received a supervision order for six months, including a drug rehabilitation component.

Prior to the hearing, the 23-year-old was given a deferred sentence for the offence which occurred on January 26.

Lindsay Baker, prosecuting, said that it had been initially agreed that some 14 cannabis plants were seized by police.

However, this was reduced to nine, which a drugs liaison officer agreed could have produced 458g of the drug.

She said: “He (Bull) has no previous convictions recorded against him prior to this matter.”

Ian Brazier, defending, said: “Mr Bull is a young man who has had some very sad difficulties - he lost his parents at quite a young age and found he had a lot of things himself to cope with.”

He told the court that, to cope with anxiety, the defendant turned to “self medicating” himself by taking cannabis.

Mr Brazier added: “He (Bull) was finding that it was costing him a lot of money and started growing it himself.

“It was only for his own use and not for anyone else.”

He said that Bull had previously “reeked” of cannabis, showing he was a “heavy user” but since appearing in court had not been in any trouble and had turned up when he was required to.

Mr Brazier added: “Altogether, he is more optimistic about the future.”

The 23-year-old, addressing the court, admitted that he was trying to reduce his cannabis use in view to stopping and said: “I’ve never caused any problems to anybody.”

The court also heard Bull was trying to set up his own pig farming business.

The chairman of the bench, Dermot Richardson, said: “You know growing cannabis is an offence in so far that you are likely to get a custodial sentence.

“The purpose of the deferred sentence was to see whether you could keep out of prison and find an alternative to allow you not to be sent to prison.

“You have done what the court has asked of you so far.

“Although a custodial might be appropriate normally, we are going to treat you leniently and impose a community order on you.”

The court also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs, and that the defendant pay £85 court costs.

3 comments

"The chairman of the bench, Dermot Richardson, said: “You know growing cannabis is an offence in so far that you are likely to get a custodial sentence." - has this idiot not read the sentencing guidelines? How on earth do they manage to keep their position when they are so out of touch? No victim - no crime. What a waste of tax payers money.

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achesandpains

Thursday, October 4, 2012
How is it that the UK Government can issue licence to GW Pharmaceuticals to legally grow tonnes of skunk cannabis, yet the Government maintains that "cannabis is of no medicinal value whatsoever"?? What is this double-standard where a citizen is a criminal but the corporation may legally grow "medicine"?? A cannabis conviction is a criminal record for life. How is this justice? How are the lies and falsehoods still being maintained when the Government has sanctioned a pharmaceutical company to produce cannabis medicine?? Every hour there are more cannabis arrests and the authorities know that the laws are false, based on lies and half-truths. It is disgusting that the government continues to oppress citizens using crude lies. Free and pardon all cannabis convictions, compensation for all victims of the false cannabis laws. Arrest the bankers, go after the real criminals at the top. Thank you.

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Moonbeam Eleven Crocket

Thursday, October 4, 2012
We need to stop this stupid and unwinnable war against cannabis. It is causing far more harm to our communities than it prevents. If we had a properly regulated system of production and supply we'd have no more illegal cannabis farms, instead we'd have thousands of new jobs. We'd have no more dealers on the streets. Cannabis would be available to adults only through licensed outlets and we'd have some control over the THC and CBD content. Doctors would be able to prescribe one of the most effective medicines that has no serious side effects at all. At the moment the government has given GW Pharmaceuticals an illegal monopoly on cannabis so they make millions out of a medicine that you can grow in your greenhouse for virtually nothing. If we introduced a legally regulated system we would solve nearly all the problems around cannabis. Science proves how much safer it is than tobacco, alcohol, prescription medicines and all other recreational drugs. If anyone does have a problem with it they could get help without having to confess to a crime. CLEAR published independent, expert research last year which shows that a tax and regulate policy on cannabis would produce a net gain to the UK economy of up to £9.3 billion per annum. It is a scandal that our government, our judges, our courts, our police and our newspapers keep misleading us about cannabis. Find out the truth for yourself and wake up to the lies you have been told.

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PeterReynolds

Thursday, October 4, 2012