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UK: Itchy genitals drove man to grow drug, court hears
The Press & Journal, Aberdeen
Saturday 11 Aug 2007 CANNABIS FARMER WANTED RELIEF FROM CHRONIC PAIN A cannabis farmer was shown mercy by a sheriff yesterday after explaining he wanted to use the drug to tackle the pain of itchy genitals. Hapless Gregor Spalding, 30, was caught growing the plants by police who happened to be in his home looking for someone else. The officers picked up a strong smell of cannabis and Spalding led them to a cupboard where he had set up a small crop of the drug. Perth Sheriff Court was told that Spalding's "amateurish attempt" to cultivate cannabis was provoked by chronic pain he had suffered for three years. He told the court that his problems were caused by constant itching around his genitals and prescribed painkillers had not been effective. Spalding said he wanted to try cannabis as a painkiller having read stories about other people who had used it to counter chronic pain. Spalding, of Croft Court, Blairgowrie, admitted producing cannabis at his home in Perthshire on April 15 this year. Solicitor Mike Tavendale said: "He has been prescribed all manner of painkillers but none have had any effect. Out of desperation he resolved to try cannabis after reading about the lady in Orkney who had, been producing it for herself. "He read about it on the internet He obtained seeds and bought a lamp. He had not been growing it long. They were about a foot high. "He is a first offender. He simply didn't want to get into a position where he was buying drugs from someone else." The court was told that Spalding, who is single and studying to become a computer network engineer, had now been referred to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. Sheriff Derek Livingston said: "It does strike me that this isn't a case where someone is growing the plant to supply it to others. "It was a stupid amateurish attempt I am prepared to give you a chance. "As long as it remains proscribed, you cannot grow cannabis plants in your house." He deferred sentence for six months for Spalding to be of good behaviour, and assured him that if he was he would be treated "leniently".
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