Chronic pain from workplace accident reason for cannabis grow, court hears

Prosecutor Senior Constable Nathan Marsh told the court police found 24 cannabis plants in the backyard of Bowen’s Numurkah home on February 26.

A single shotgun cartridge was also found in his home, the court heard.

Bowen’s defence counsel said her client had the cannabis plants to treat chronic pain he’d for most of his life, after a workplace accident that saw him receive $40,000 compensation.

She said he’d previously had a prescription for medicinal cannabis; however, it became too expensive and he’d since been prescribed other medication.

The court heard his son, who is one of his nine children, had brought the cartridge ammunition home from the gun club as a memento, and he didn’t know it was in his home.

Magistrate David Faram said Bowen’s chronic pain was clearly a long-standing issue.

He was fined $750.