Community Service for Cannabis Grower

Jul 8 2010 by Debbie Hall, West Lothian Courier

A MAN caught growing cannabis plants at his home has been given “one last chance” to avoid jail.

John Thomson (28), who pled guilty to producing cannabis at his home at Marina Drive, Bathgate, between February 15 and March 2 this year, has been ordered to carry out community service after being told the offence had warranted a prison term.

Livingston Sheriff Court heard that police officers were near Thomson’s home and, when they walked past his front door, they detected a strong smell of cannabis.

Officers knocked on Thompson’s front door and he allowed them into his home, saying “I know why you’re here”.

Thomson then led the officers to a built-in cupboard in his bedroom where they found a small cannabis cultivation operation.

A search was conducted of his home and three plants – with a potential value of £150 each – were discovered.

Thomson was then taken to Livingston Police Station where he was interviewed and admitted attempting to grow cannabis.

His solicitor, Neil Robertson, said the plants were about five days old and it would take around three weeks for them to flower. He said Thomson wasn’t sure if the plants would produce any cannabis at all.

“The £150 value would only be if absolutely everything had gone correctly. It may be that nothing at all would have come from these plants.

“It was his intention to grow these plants and smoke the cannabis himself.

“The reason he was growing them is that he is a heavy cannabis smoker and he still smokes the drug, although he views this an ongoing problem and something he doesn’t want to have in his life any more.”

Sheriff Martin Edington ordered Thomson to carry out 135 hours of community service for the offence – but warned him it was his last chance to avoid a jail term.

He said: “I consider the production of cannabis a sufficiently serious offence for a custodial sentence, even for a first offender, but you are not a first offender because you have a previous conviction in relation to drugs.

“The High Court has made it clear regarding the production of drugs as a serious matter and, in general terms, prison is the only appropriate sentence for such offences.

“I have decided on this occasion and given the circumstances of this matter that I will give you one last chance – and one chance only – to avoid a custodial sentence.”