SICK GRANDMA IN DRUG FINE

A NORSEMAN grandmother who confessed to using cannabis to relieve the pain
of leukaemia has been convicted of intending to supply the drug to her
quadriplegic daughter.

Patricia Margaret Borinelli, 60, was fined $1000 yesterday after a District
Court jury in Kalgoorlie found her guilty of possessing two cannabis plants
with intent to supply.

Under changes to drug laws which the State Government hopes to introduce by
the end of the year, police could have issued an infringement notice and
fined Borinelli $200.

Outside court, Borinelli said she had been humiliated publicly in her small
community. She claimed her home had been vandalised as a result of the charges.

Borinelli said the cannabis legislation could go further by providing for
people who used the drug for medicinal purposes.

She accepted that the court process and penalty had been fair but said she
had not intended to make money and was not hurting anyone. She had decided
to grow the cannabis because she could not afford to buy the drug and did
not want to become involved with dealers.

When police went to her Cornell Street home on April 3 last year, Borinelli
admitted readily to possessing the cannabis stripped from two plants. The
cannabis was estimated to weigh nearly 4.5kg but an analyst's report
weighed the drug at 1.8kg after it was dried. During a police interview,
Borinelli said she had grown the same two plants for about 31/2 years. She
said the drugs found would last her about a year.

She used about half a bag of cannabis each day, which she either smoked or
drank in tea to relieve insomnia and anxiety. She also found cannabis
assisted with the symptoms of leukaemia, which was diagnosed two years ago.

Borinelli said she had once given cannabis to her daughter, who was
paralysed at the age of 19 after being injured in a pillow fight and also
had osteoporosis. She confirmed in the interview she intended to give some
of the seized drug to her daughter but denied it in court.

The Government this week outlined plans to relax cannabis laws for minor
offences of possessing and growing the drug, in line with recommendations
from last year's Community Drug Summit.

Under the changes, people who grow or possess small amounts of cannabis for
personal use will not be treated as criminals. Users caught with less than
15g of cannabis will be fined $100. Amounts of between 15g and 30g will
attract a fine of up to $150. Recreational users caught with two plants
will be fined $200.

Those caught with small amounts of cannabis will have the option to attend
drug education in lieu of a fine.

Police also will have the discretion to charge people if there is evidence
to suggest they are dealing.

A spokeswoman for Health Minister Bob Kucera said the Government was
considering the issue of medicinal use of cannabis.