The home of a Flinders Island man smelt strongly of cannabis when police called in for a COVID-19 compliance check last year, a Supreme Court jury in Launceston heard.
The jury heard that Robert Leslie Harris, 66, of Lady Barron, had 6.3 kilograms of cannabis drying in his bedroom.
Mr Harris has pleaded not guilty to trafficking in a controlled substance on April 12, 2020.
In an interview with police, Mr Harris said that the cannabis was for personal use.
Crown prosecutor Jennifer Slevin said that because Mr Harris had more than one trafficable quantity of cannabis (one kilogram) he had to prove on the balance of probabilities that he was not going to sell it.
A change from the usual onus which is on the Crown proving beyond reasonable doubt that he was going to sell.
Defence counsel Lucy Flanagan said that the issue at the trial was whether Mr Harris intended to sell.
Senior Sergeant Christopher Parr gave evidence that he and Constable Ryan Jeffrey visited Mr Harris and smelt cannabis the instant they got out of the car - about 50 metres away.
Mr Harris refused police entry until they had a warrant.
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He took them to a room where there was a tarpaulin, fans, chair, garden scissors and wire racks of drying cannabis leaves and buds.
Senior Sergeant Parr said that a search of the yard yielded no evidence of growing such as lights, grow bags or potting mix.
He said he found no bongs or evidence of smoking devices.
Constable Ryan said he smelt "a really strong smell of cannabis, it hit you in the face."
In an interview with police, Mr Harris said he used the cannabis mixed with Champion Ruby tobacco as a form of pain management.
He told police that he had recently returned from a trip to Launceston.
He would not comment on where the cannabis had come from, how it was grown, or how long it had been drying.
Mr Harris reflected during the interview that "if he had any common sense" he wouldn't have had the cannabis at his home knowing that police may call to check on him during isolation.
The trial continues on Wednesday afternoon.
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Nick Clark
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
I am the Supreme and Magistrates Court reporter for the Examiner for the past 18 months. My journalism career has clicked over 30 years and encompasses four different spells at Tasmanian newspapers.
