Note from poster: Not a remarkable story, in a way. Just another cannabis bust...
The interesting thing about it is that I was actually the "individual"
mentioned in the penultimate paragraph.
Had the judge actually not intervened, it's unlikely the message
that was
on the note would ever have been read out in court, and therefore
it
wouldn't have been mentioned in the newspaper report...
What actually prompted me to write the note was that the Judge had
told the
defendant's solicitor that the courts were not the place to try
to get a
change in the law, and that he should go the parliamentary route...
Marty
_______________________
The Meath Chronicle
13 May 2000
Navan Man Had Sufficient Cannabis To Make 744 Cigarettes
“There’s a beautiful one about 4’ 6” in full bloom -potted and all,” Judge John Brophy commented about a photo of one of a defendant’s home-grown cannabis plants, at Navan Court last week.
The Judge adjourned summonses against Dermot Gorman (50), No. 6 O’Growney Terrace, Navan, to 11th October next for a Probation & Welfare Service report and a psychiatric assessment and report.
The defendant is summonsed with having a controlled drug, cannabis resin,
unlawfully in his possession at No. 6 O’Growney Terrace, on 11th November
1999; having it in his possession for sale or supply; having cannabis unlawfully
in his possession and having it in his possession for sale or
supply and cultivating cannabis plants on the same occasion. Gorman
pleaded guilty to the offences.
The court heard that the cannabis resin found was sufficient to make 744 cigarettes, while the plants would make 422 cigarettes. Mr. James Orange, solicitor, said his client had a great interest in marijuana, both in its botany and in the end product.
“He has a jungle of cannabis plants in his house. He has trays built specially and has built boxes to hold the plants,” Judge Brophy said.
“Why doesn’t he grow daffodils or tulips or whatever? Would he not get as much joy from that?” the Judge wondered. Mr. Orange replied that they had a very short season. He added that after a two-hour consultation with the defendant, he became very interested in literature Gorman produced about the therapeutic value of cannabis. He added that the defendant felt that the regulations under the Drugs Act were unfair to him.
Mr. Orange said his client was not an obnoxious drug user, noting that the activities were taking place within 150 yards of the Garda Station.
While the case was in progress, an individual tried to give the defendant a note. Judge Brophy told him to sit down and instructed a Garda to hand the note to him. The note said that the Registrar Political Parties would not register the Cannabis Legislation Party in 1997.
Judge Brophy said he did not want to jail the defendant, but these activities could not go on. He warned him that if he came before him again for growing cannabis plants for his own use or for others’ use, he would jail him.
ENDS
NOTE: Horris' is back in court on Wednesday 11th
October and would welcome spectators. Should be fun. Contact drugsense
for details.