PARENTS 'GREW DRUGS FOR KIDS'

A QUEENSLAND couple accused of supplying marijuana to their children
allegedly told police they did so to prevent them from buying drugs
elsewhere.

Police will allege the couple from Marsden, in Logan City, grew
marijuana at home and their three children regularly smoked marijuana
in their bedrooms.

Police will allege that they found a pipe and marijuana at the
couple's house and cuttings of a plant in the backyard.

They also will allege that the marijuana was grown for personal use
and so that the children, two of whom were aged 13 and 14 at the time,
would not buy drugs somewhere else.

Police also will claim that homegrowing the drugs allowed the parents
to know what type of drugs their sons were taking, as well as
controlling their drug intake, stopping them from stealing and
sneaking around the house.

The couple, who cannot be named to protect their children's identity,
are conjointly facing seven drug-related charges.

The charges include supplying a dangerous drug to a minor, producing a
dangerous drug, possessing a dangerous drug and possessing a utensil
used for the smoking of a dangerous drug.

The offences allegedly took place at a house in Marsden between
October 1997 and March this year.

The couple, aged 41 and 46, were not required to appear in Beenleigh
Magistrates Court yesterday and the case was adjourned until February
4 for mention.

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady