A Blessington man caught growing cannabis, who described himself as "simpleton" in court, has said he used the drug to help him sleep and cope after he had a traumatic experience.
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Joshua Raymond Dodge, 21, grew 89 cannabis on an English Town Road property at Deddington.
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Prosecutor Felicity Radin said a police drug squad found the cannabis plants during a raid on March 19.
Ms Radin told Launceston Magistrates Court police retrieved Dodge's possessions in a shack near where the plants were found.
Dodge was arrested three hours after the raid when police caught him in Blessington.
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A vehicle Dodge was travelling in was searched and police located cannabis bud inside it.
Ms Radin said Dodge told police he was a cannabis smoker who had spent six to eight months growing the plants police found.
In court on Thursday Dodge told Magistrate Ken Stanton that he used cannabis to sleep and cope after a pneumonia diagnosis.
"All I found is it helps with me of a night sleeping and with my recent traumatic experience at hospital," Dodge said.
Dodge pleaded guilty to one count of cultivating a controlled plant and two drug possession charges.
When Mr Stanton said Dodge would be sentenced on the basis of cultivation and possession of the bud found in the car, Dodge asked for clarification.
"I'm a simpleton mate, I don't understand," Dodge told Mr Stanton.
When Dodge said he wanted to be sentenced immediately, Mr Stanton said "it's not happening".
"It's only your first offence but it is for a charge of cultivating at the serious end," Mr Stanton told Dodge.
"This is a very serious charge and I'm contemplating imposing a community corrections order."
Mr Stanton ordered a pre-sentence and set May 27 as Dodge's next court appearance date.
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