Perth man grew cannabis to ease arthritis
A 49-year-old man who grew cannabis in his flat to help relieve arthritic pain has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
Perth Sheriff Court heard police noticed a cannabis smell coming from Steven McKechnie's flat while they were carrying out an unrelated inquiry.
They found £3,000 of the drug in the property in the city's Stronsay Court.
McKechnie said he used it to help alleviate pain from arthritis and a frozen shoulder.
The court was told that cannabis leaves were strewn around the flat, with tubs containing the drug also being found alongside six cannabis plants.
The Crown accepted McKechnie was not involved in supplying cannabis to anyone else. He admitted producing the drug at his home on 11 April of last year.
Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said McKechnie had been using cannabis for pain relief for several years.
He said: "He has arthritis and a frozen shoulder which is taking a long time to clear.
"Rather than frequently attending to buy it, he thought he would try and grow his own. This was for his own use. The equipment and seeds cost him £200 to purchase."