'HEAVY USER' VOWS TO CUT DOWN

A former "heavy user" of cannabis has been granted a suspended prison sentence after indicating he was willing to reduce his cannabis use and get a job.

Unemployed Granity man Trevor Leslie Collins, 27, pleaded guilty in the Christchurch District Court to charges of cultivating cannabis and possession of cannabis oil for supply. A search of his property last year had uncovered hundreds of cannabis seedlings and plants, 50g of cannabis oil, and 8500 cannabis seeds.

Judge Murray Abbott sentenced Collins to 18 months prison, suspended for two years, four months periodic detention, and 18 months supervision, subject to statutory conditions.

Counsel Doug Taffs said Collins had no history of previous offending, and his cultivation of cannabis had been for his personal use and to occasionally share with his friends. Judge Murray Abbott said he had taken into account Collins' attempts at rehabilitation, and the fact that he was not a dealer.

He said Collins' decline from a bright teenager to an "apathetic" adult since he began using cannabis heavily was striking.