MAN ARGUES KILO OF DRUG WAS FOR SELF-MEDICATION

A convicted drug dealer from the West Coast has been jailed after being
caught with almost a kilogram of high-quality cannabis, which he claimed
was a year's personal supply to deal with his chronic back pain.

Christchurch District Court Judge Stephen Erber said the 945g of cannabis
found with Kumara sawmiller David Ian Houlahan, 39, was worth $8200, and
that value would have been even higher when it was packaged for sale in
bullet form.

Notwithstanding his claim that he self-medicated with cannabis to deal with
chronic pain problems and had bought a year's supply in one hit, Houlahan
pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale on the basis that some of
it would have been sold.

The judge said Houlahan had an extensive criminal history, including a
previous jail term nine years ago for cannabis dealing, and had been caught
with a set of electronic scales.

It was likely that a significant amount of the cannabis would have been sold.

David Ruth, defending, said Houlahan turned to cannabis after doctors
became concerned at his "outrageous" consumption of Pethidine to control
his back pain. He now accepted he would have to resort to prescribed
methods of pain relief.

Judge Erber said Houlahan's possession of the cannabis had a strong
commercial element, making a jail term inevitable. He was sentenced to 15
months jail, and the judge refused to open the way for Houlahan to apply
for home detention, finding instead that the defendant was likely to
continue using cannabis.