A man grew cannabis in his garden shed for a friend with cancer who didn’t want to undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Matthew Butcher (47), of Royal Close, Sutton Bridge, allowed police to do a voluntary search of his home when they arrived without a warrant on August 22.
Marie Stace, prosecuting, said police found ten cannabis plants in the shed and Butcher said he had been growing them for about ten weeks.
He put the cannabis in a syringe without a needle for his friend.
Solicitor Alison Muir, mitigating, said Butcher had been best friends with the man for 35 years.
The friend didn’t want to undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy because he had seen how devastating those treatments can be.
She said Butcher did some research on the Internet and found that cannabis can alleviate some of the problems caused by cancer.
Miss Muir continued: “It was that which prompted him to grow the plants.
“It is not an excuse, but I hope it perhaps puts in context what he was doing.”
When police came to his door making enquiries, Butcher was more than cooperative and they didn’t need a warrant to go in.
She said: “He hasn’t told his friend about these proceedings. He was anxious not to cause further stress bearing in mind his friend’s poor state of health at this present time.”
Butcher, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis.
He was conditionally discharged for 12 months and must pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
Spalding magistrates ordered destruction of the seized cannabis plants.