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Man grew cannabis to ease arthritis
UTV Monday 22 Nov 2010 Police seized 54 plants, along with lights and heaters, from a suspected production factory at Joao Sousa Rito's house in Portadown, Co Armagh. The 53-year-old migrant worker faces charges of possessing cannabis with intent to supply, cultivating the drugs and being concerned in its supply. Crown counsel Nicola Auret said the plants were being grown in a single bedroom at the Obins Drive property, with Rito apparently sleeping on a sofa. She said the approximate value of the seizure was estimated to be £27,000. The court was told Rito, a Portuguese national, admitted smoking joints every day and to cultivating a new crop every four months for himself. Ms Auret said: "He accepted that he knew it was illegal to grow cannabis and he claimed that he smoked six-seven cigarettes a day." "However, based on previous finds, police estimated there was enough material to produce around 15,000 cigarettes which, on his calculations, would mean he was smoking around 125 every day." "Therefore the amount found was being produced in order to supply others." A defence barrister disputed the alleged scale of the seizure and prosecution claims about its capacity to produce. The lawyer told the court that Rito has been addicted to cannabis for 35 years and never had any intention of producing drugs for anyone else. "He said the reason he was cultivating the plants was so he could provide cannabis for himself. He could not afford to pay street dealers," he said. The barrister pointed out that no bags, scales or other items associated with a drugs supply organisation were found at the house. Rito, who worked at a meat processing plant, was said to have lived in Northern Ireland for 10 years. His counsel added: "He's a sufferer of arthritis. That's the reason for his cannabis consumption." Bail was refused due to the risk of any further offences being committed. But the judge, Lord Justice Higgins, added: "If there was information before the court that these plants were for the sole use of medical reasons that might persuade a court to take a different view. It would need to be a significant report." http://www.u.tv/News/Man-grew-cannabis-to-%E2%80%98ease-arthritis/83fe467d-3020-48af-96a1-adb7560dd1dc
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