A man whose cannabis growing operation was discovered by police said he was using the drug to treat his own ADHD.
A tip-off led police to Alexander O’Neill’s home in Market Street, Ullapool, where they discovered cannabis being grown in October last year.
But a court heard that the fisherman had only turned to growing the drug in order to self-medicate the ADHD he had suffered since he was a child.
O’Neill, 32, appeared for sentencing at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday having previously pled guilty to a single charge of producing, and two charges of possession of, a controlled Class B drug.
Tip-off led police to plants
Fiscal Depute Ruaridh Allison told the court that police had raided the address on October 22 after they received information it may be being used for the production of a controlled drug.
He said: “Police came across three large cannabis plants.”
The court heard the plants, which were around two feet tall, were housed in a foil growing tent complete with growing equipment.
A further search of the property uncovered around 37 grams of herbal cannabis as well as a small amount of cannabis resin.
Mr Allison said the operation was dismantled, and when O’Neill returned to the property later that day he “freely admitted ownership of the plants.”
Solicitor Patrick O’Dea for O’Neill told the court his client had taken to using the drug after discovering the effect it had on his condition.
Symptoms ‘abated’ by cannabis use
He said: “His use of cannabis was brought about by his childhood ADHD, he was for many years on Ritalin. He started to use cannabis and noticed that his symptoms were greatly abated by it.”
Mr O’Dea said the change had been such that O’Neill’s doctor had taken him off his previously prescribed medication.
“He was using cannabis to self medicate, hence the reason he was producing it.”
The court heard that, following the case, O’Neill was hoping to be able to continue using the drug though a legal route.
“He has sought advice as to how to regulate his access to cannabis and is going to take it up with his GP,” said Mr O’Dea.
Sheriff Gary Aitken fined O’Neill £380.
