A cancer sufferer grew cannabis in a desperate bid to treat his illness after other treatments became unavailable to him, a court heard.
Police searched Michael Miller’s flat in Eldon Road, Marsh, and found seven cannabis plants there.
Kirklees magistrates heard that the 26-year-old, who has thyroid cancer, believed that cannabis oil could help treat his symptoms.
Miller, now of Dale View in Longwood, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the production of the class B drug.
Alex Bozman, prosecuting, said: “The defendant subsequently attended at the police station voluntarily and accepted he’d been growing cannabis for medicinal purposes.”
The court heard that Miller had a previous conviction from 2010 for possession of cannabis as well as a caution for possession from April 2014.
Sonia Kidd, mitigating, explained that her client had been born with rare genetic difficulties. He had suffered from cancer from birth throughout his childhood which left him with poor eyesight and registered blind.
“He’s had chemotherapy and radiotherapy but had that much that he’s been told that if he does develop any other form of cancer that treatment will not be available to him.
“He has recently been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and read about other treatments that might be able to support him. Cannabis oil is said to break down the cancerous tissues and that’s the purpose for having grown the plants.
“He’s clutching at any straw that may be available to him - it’s an incredibly sad set of circumstances for which he finds himself before the court.”
Magistrates gave Miller a conditional discharge for 12 months.
He still has to pay £85 costs and £15 victim surcharge and the drugs will be forfeited and destroyed.
