WOMAN ON DISABILITY FINED $1,500 FOR GROWING POT

A disabled woman caught growing 10 marijuana plants in the basement of
her Merritt house was handed a nine month conditional sentance and
fined $1,500 Friday.

Deborah Collins, 44, pleaded guilty of production of marijuana in
provincial court in Kamloops. the plants and some growing equipment
were seizes during a raid on Dec. 20, 2002.

Defence lawyer Fred Kaatz told the court Collins suffers a number of
health ailments and hasn't worked for more than ten years. She lives
of a disability pension payment that pays her rent and gives her a
disposable income of $340 a month.

Judge William Sundhu acceded to a joint submission to impose the
$1,500 fine, to be paid over nine months. terms of the conditional
sentance require a period of house arrest, when Collins must remain in
her house unless she requires medical treatment.

She was also banned from having firearms for ten years.