Poor-quality pot keeps grower out of prison
Despite being caught with enough home-grown cannabis to warrant a prison sentence, a man in western Sweden escaped with probation and a 500 kronor ($75) fine because the drugs were of such poor quality.
The 35-year-old admitted to the court he had grown the marijuana plants at home for private use, and stored them in the attic.
Before reaching a successful harvest, however, the unforgiving Swedish climate sucked the life out of the helpless cannabis crop.
In a last ditch effort, the man tried trimming away the dead weed, but it was too late.
According to Swedish law, however, the full cannabis plant is considered a drug, and therefore the man was still found guilty. Although, the poor quality of the drugs he produced did keep him out of prison.
“That’s an evaluation that the court will make. If (the drugs) don’t work, it could lead to a milder sentence,” Sara Malmhester at the Swedish Prosecution Authority told The Local.
“The level (of THC) in the drugs affects the sentence, since a better plant produces more of the drug to be abused.”
THC is short for Tetrahydrocannabinol, and is the main psychoactive substance in cannabis. The higher the level, the stronger the drug, and by pointing out the low level of THC in his plants, the 35-year-old had the Värmland court and prosecution convinced.
The exact level of THC was never tested, so what the man was actually in possession of might in fact have been closer to hemp than any smokeable drug. But both parts were seemingly happy with the ruling.
“I don’t wish to comment on my personal emotions, but looking at the case I think this is a reasonable sentence,” said prosecutor Ludmila Pronko.
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The 35-year-old admitted to the court he had grown the marijuana plants at home for private use, and stored them in the attic.
Before reaching a successful harvest, however, the unforgiving Swedish climate sucked the life out of the helpless cannabis crop.
In a last ditch effort, the man tried trimming away the dead weed, but it was too late.
According to Swedish law, however, the full cannabis plant is considered a drug, and therefore the man was still found guilty. Although, the poor quality of the drugs he produced did keep him out of prison.
“That’s an evaluation that the court will make. If (the drugs) don’t work, it could lead to a milder sentence,” Sara Malmhester at the Swedish Prosecution Authority told The Local.
“The level (of THC) in the drugs affects the sentence, since a better plant produces more of the drug to be abused.”
THC is short for Tetrahydrocannabinol, and is the main psychoactive substance in cannabis. The higher the level, the stronger the drug, and by pointing out the low level of THC in his plants, the 35-year-old had the Värmland court and prosecution convinced.
The exact level of THC was never tested, so what the man was actually in possession of might in fact have been closer to hemp than any smokeable drug. But both parts were seemingly happy with the ruling.
“I don’t wish to comment on my personal emotions, but looking at the case I think this is a reasonable sentence,” said prosecutor Ludmila Pronko.
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