A Halewood woman caught growing a cannabis farm told police she wanted the drug to be legalised so she could open an Amsterdam-style café.
Karen Hall, 52, tried to grow 18 cannabis plants in her back bedroom but was arrested after police executed a drugs warrant.
Hall, of Bunting Court, was on holiday in America when officers burst into the property at 3am on May 6.
She was arrested on May 27 and pleaded guilty to production of cannabis at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court today.
Andrew Page, prosecuting, said Hall told police in interview that she grew the plants for her personal use in an effort to avoid negotiating with street dealers.
He told the court: “She said she hoped cannabis would be legalised in Merseyside because she had an idea to set up her own cannabis healing cafe.”
The court heard Hall had no previous convictions, arrests or cautions on her record.
Vicky Balenski, representing Hall, said: “She is a habitual user of cannabis but did not want to associate with criminals, i.e street dealers.
“However it was not a very good attempt at growing cannabis as the plants were in a very early stage and not yet flowering, and the police experts have not been able to calculate any yield.”
Mrs Balenski said Hall was also the primary carer for her elderly mother, who is in the later stages of dementia.
Magistrates ordered Hall to complete a 20 day rehabilitation order and put her under a six week curfew of between 8pm and 8am.
She was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £80 and £85 prosecution costs.
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/