Pubdate: Thu, 22 May 2014
Source: Nelson Mail, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2014 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
Contact:  http://www.nelsonmail.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1069
Author: Sasha Borissenko
Page: 3

NO CONVICTION OVER CANNABIS

A woman who made herself cannabis cookies for pain relief has been 
discharged without a conviction, partly because she needed to travel 
to care for ill relatives.

Alexandra Purucker, 60, of Takaka, who was charged with cultivating 
and possessing cannabis, was discharged without conviction in the 
Nelson District Court on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Sergeant Graeme Eden said police went to Purucker's Takaka 
property on February 6 for an unrelated matter and discovered five 
plants scattered around her property.

While police searched inside the property they discovered 71 grams of 
cannabis in her bedroom.

Defence counsel Garry Barkle said Purucker suffered from sciatica and 
made herself cannabis cookies for pain relief purposes.

If Purucker was convicted, she would not be able to travel to Germany 
regularly to see her mother and aunt who had dementia-related 
illnesses, she would not be able to move to Australia and she would 
never be able to complete the New Zealand citizenship process.

The offending was on the lower end of the spectrum, he said.

Judge Peter Butler said he was satisfied that Purucker only grew the 
plants for her personal use.

The fact that no irrigation, lighting or special tools were used for 
growing the plants helped her cause, he said.

Having no other siblings, having the power of attorney and being the 
regular caregiver of her aunt and mother in Germany was significant, he said.

He decided to exercise his discretion to discharge the woman without 
a conviction to what could otherwise have had very serious consequences.

He ordered the destruction of the plants.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom