A LONGFORD man who grew cannabis for his own use has been ordered to perform 140 hours of community service.
Johannes Cornelius Konyn, 47, pleaded guilty in June to growing 50 cannabis plants in his backyard and possessing more than two kilograms of the drug in various tins around his house.
Handing down his sentence at the Launceston Magistrates Court yesterday, Magistrate Robert Pearce said the plants had sprung up from discarded seeds and cuttings and were not grown in an "organised and sophisticated way".
Mr Pearce said Konyn had not intended to sell the drugs.
"Nevertheless the number of plants and the quantity of cannabis was significant and gives rise to a real risk that by one means or other the cannabis so produced would find its way to persons other than the defendant," he said.
Mr Pearce said Konyn had two prior convictions for growing and possessing cannabis.