Cannabis grower is fined

Aug 19 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A MAN who was caught growing 28 cannabis plants in his home has been fined.

Police raided Paul Silver’s Livingston home on November 16 last year and found the plants along with associated equipment to grow them.

Fiscal depute Paul Beaton told Livingston Sheriff Court: “He said he had been growing the plants to provide himself with medication for a broken back he had sustained earlier. The value of the plants given to them by the police was £150 per plant, giving a total of £3400.

Silver, whose address was given as Deans South, Livingston, pled guilty to producing the class B drug.

His solicitor, Darryl Lovie, told the court it was difficult to put a value on the plants.

Mr Lovie added: “The value would be the maximum yield of fully mature plants but my understanding is that there was only one plant that could be described as mature.

“These plants were for his personal use. The reason for them being grown was to avoid the necessity of coming into contact with dealers.

“The problems with his back are well documented. The medication being given to him was not having the desired effect.

“It was suggested to him that the use of cannabis could assist him with dealing with his pain.

“He did not have the right apparatus to grow the plants as he did not have a filter. The absence of such meant the smell of the plants could be detected from the street.

“He does not intend to go down this particular road again.”

Fining Silver £1000 Sheriff Ian Anderson said the fine would have been £1500 had it not been for the 38-year-old’s early plea.