No conviction for ‘green fairy’

Nelson medicinal cannabis campaigner Rose Renton has been discharged without conviction on a charge of cultivating cannabis.

Last November, Renton was discharged without conviction on three charges of possession, processing and supplying cannabis. That decision was suppressed until Monday when Renton appeared in the Nelson District Court on the cultivation charge. She had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges.

Judge David Ruth said Renton’s offending was ‘‘altruistic’’ and motivated by wanting to help others which brought her into conflict with the Misuse of Drugs Act. The charge related to 58 cannabis plants found in Renton’s Nelson home in various stages of growth.

The judge said he accepted most of the plants cultivated were very low in the active ingredient THC.

Lawyer Sue Grey said a drug conviction would prevent Renton from getting a licence to cultivate or process hemp, from which medicinal cannabis is manufactured. It would also inhibit her ability to travel overseas.

Judge Ruth said the court had no political motive and the discharge was not an endorsement of anyone breaking the law.

He said charges for cannabis cultivation had historically been subject to serious sentences but Renton’s offending was at the bottom end of the scale.

‘‘This was effectively an altruistic endeavour on your behalf to help those for whom that help wasn’t otherwise possible.’’

Outside court, Renton was enveloped in hugs and congratulations. She said it felt quite emotional and she thanked the community for their ongoing support. ‘‘I’ve never felt alone and it’s thanks to you guys.’’

Renton said she felt like she had gained a new community with the loss of son Alex, who died in January 2015, three months after he began experiencing seizures.

He was sedated with a range of drugs to stop the seizures and his treatment included groundbreaking use of the medicinal cannabis oil, Elixinol, after a campaign by his family after conventional treatments did not work. Since Alex’s death, Renton has campaigned for the Government to make cannabis-based medications available in New Zealand. She said police visited her home in September 2017 after an incident involving former environment minister Dr Nick Smith.

Her mother had placed one of the cannabis plants outside to get some sun and it was noticed by the prosecuting officer. ‘When he said 58 plants it sounded like this massive growing operation but literally some of them were seedlings.’’

Renton said it had been a ‘‘gruelling’’ 18 months since the charges were first laid. Her vision was to support a legal medicinal cannabis growing industry in Nelson. ‘‘I can now apply for a legal license and that’s what I will encourage other green fairies to do,’’ Renton said.

‘‘I can now apply for a legal license and that’s what I will encourage other green fairies to do.’’ Rose Renton