HERBAL HEALING | 

Woman (40) caught growing €4k of cannabis in a tent was ‘self-medicating’

Solicitor Peter Lavery said his client had a very difficult medical condition.

The Argus

Today at 07:54

A 40-year-old woman who was growing cannabis plants to self-medicate, has received the benefit of the Probation Act.

Emma Robinson, Garrybawn, Tom Bellew Avenue, Dundalk, pleaded guilty to cultivation of five cannabis plants and to possession of the drug, on 26 May 2022.

Court presenter Sgt Laura Blanche said that at 10pm gardaí searched the defendant’s property and in a small foil-lined tent found five plants and a heat lamp.

Ms Robinson admitted cultivating the cannabis plants. She said she had planted five seeds to self-medicate.

The drugs were valued €4,000.

There were no previous convictions.

Solicitor Peter Lavery said his client had a very difficult medical condition. The cannabis assisted her. A medical report was handed into court.

It was not a sophisticated operation. She had bought the seeds ‘in a shop in Ireland’. She did not want to come into contact with drugs dealers and was ‘shocked’ at the value of the cannabis.

Judge McKiernan asked how the defendant came to garda attention.

Sgt Blanche replied she could not speak to that, while Mr Lavery said it may have been the smell of the cannabis.

The court applied the Probation Act.