A DISABILITY pensioner who grew six marijuana plants in his backyard for medicinal purposes has been fined $500 in Orange Local Court.
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Jeffery James Quarmby told police he grew the plants for personal use to help him manage pain from chronic back problems that had left him unable to work.
He is now permanently on a disability pension after sustaining four crushed discs in his back.
Quarmby, 57, grew the plants in pots at his residence in Glenroi Avenue and did not make an appearance in court, instead writing to the court to explain his dependence on the drug to help him manage his pain and to get to sleep at night.
A second man, Phillip Alexander Farmer, appeared in Orange Local Court last Thursday also charged with possession of marijuana when police searched him and found 0.74 grams of the drug.
Police say they caught Farmer, 24, who has a known drug history, after he and the driver of the vehicle in which he was a passenger left a known drug house near Bletchington Street in Orange on April 19.
When questioned by police Farmer told them he “had a tenner” of marijuana on him.
This is a common terminology according to police, used to describe a $10 purchase of the drug.
Farmer did not front court and was fined $800 in his absence.
The biggest fine for illegal possession of marijuana in court on Thursday was handed out to Raymond Bruce Gant.
Gant, 48, who pleaded guilty to the possession of 4.44 grams of the drug, represented himself in court.
Gant was also caught by police on April 19 leaving a known drug premises. He told police he acquired the drug for personal use and he still had to hand over $40 for the drug he had in his possession.
He was fined $1000.
The magistrate, Terry Lucas, ordered all quantities of the drugs to be destroyed.
The three men were each given 28 days to pay their fines and also have to pay court costs.