A 35-YEAR-OLD mother who grew cannabis in her front yard for medicinal use has been put on notice to clean up her act.
Dunwich woman Crisarna Margaret Marie Smith appeared at Cleveland Magistrates Court on Tuesday, February 6.
Magistrate Deborah Vasta told Ms Smith she needed to stop taking cannabis for the sake of her two children, 7 and 15.
“You should do education on the impacts it has on the brain,” she said.
“Next thing is your 15-year-old (is saying) ‘Mum does it, it is good enough for me’. You’re setting your kids up for a lifelong journey through the courts and justice system.”
Ms Smith’s solicitor said her client had strong community ties and had tried to quit the drug on previous occasions.
“She is not abusing the drug but does understand others do in the community,” she said.
The court heard police had found a one metre high cannabis bush growing in Ms Smith’s front yard and a bag filled with 16.1 grams of cannabis.
Ms Smith had told police she had grown the plant from seed for medicinal purposes.
She pleaded guilty to one count each of producing dangerous drugs, possession of dangerous drugs and possession of utensils or pipes.
Magistrate Vasta sentenced Ms Smith to a two-year probation, which required her to comply with conditions, including keeping appointments with her probation officer and submitting to random urine tests for therapeutic purposes.
