Pot user feels the pain in court

SITTING on marijuana he was drying in his car in an attempt to conceal it from police has utterly failed for one North Queensland drug user.

Gary William Stead, 59, was found guilty of producing and possessing dangerous drugs, obstructing police and possessing anything used in the commission of a crime in the Charters Towers Magistrates Court on Monday.

The court heard 180g of marijuana and a 1.8m marijuana plant were found during the search of Stead’s Sharp Rd property, following an anonymous tip that he was dismantling a marijuana set-up at the address.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Amanda Lawson said Stead was at the property when Constable Ford arrived to conduct a search.

She said Stead was leaning against the passenger door of his vehicle and asked the Constable if he could sit inside.

The request was refused on the basis the vehicle had to be searched first, but Stead opened the door and knocked a container from the passenger seat into the footwell of the car and then sat on the seat.

“The defendant has attempted to sit on the passenger’s seat on some of the spilt contents,” she said.

“The defendant told the police the green leafy material was his and it was marijuana and it was in the vehicle because he was drying it out to smoke it for joint and back pain.

“He said he was intentionally trying to empty the container so police would not see that evidence.”

Sgt Lawson said the marijuana plant was found near the shed and caravan and the bottom branches had been trimmed.

They found a further 140g of marijuana in the caravan, 6g on a plate next to the shed, 10g in a biscuit tin and 6g in a clipseal bag inside the shed.

Defence solicitor Rebecca Hudson said the Towers truck driver was out of work since March due to coronavirus.

She said Stead had rolled his car five years ago and sustained a back injury as a result.

“He said he uses the cannabis and it eases his back pain,” Ms Hudson said.

"It is for personal use only.” Magistrate Cathy Wadley told Stead she would convict and fine him one penalty of $600 for all the drug matters.

She ordered the forfeited drugs be destroyed.

On the charge of obstructing police, he was fined $100 with no conviction recorded for that offence.

NEW EQUIPMENT: Charters Towers senior medical officer Dr Mardi Webb, staff specialist Dr Rozemary Karamatic and clinical nurse Terri Hensler are part of the Charters Towers Health Service team involved in performing endoscopy procedures locally.