Grandpa given jail time for trying to supplement pension with pot grow-op
KAMLOOPS – A British Columbia grandfather who started a marijuana grow-op to augment his small pension has been sentenced to six months in jail.
Donald Clarkson, who is 76, pleaded guilty to production of marijuana and possession for the purpose of trafficking after police raided a building on his property two years ago.
Court heard that officers were alerted to a pungent smell coming from Clarkson's rental property in the North Thompson Valley and found 150 small pot plants valued at about $60,000.
Clarkson told a B.C. Supreme Court judge in Kamloops on Monday that he only started the operation because his pension wasn't big enough.
Crown and defence lawyers made a joint submission for the six-month jail term — the minimum sentence after the federal government toughened Canada's drug laws.
Defence lawyer Sheldon Tate told court that Clarkson, a retired trucker, lived a modest life and his only motive was financial gain.
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3 responses
great now has room and board for six months.
Ridiculous.6 months jail for an old guy growing pot to supplement his pension….house arrest for a guy killing a woman when he should not have been driving.This system is a joke.If CPP and OAP are all you have, you will need more money even after working your whole life.And we seriously need to look at decriminalizing, or legalizing, marijuana.
the only criminals were the legislators that brought in untested and unconstitutional legislation. Also 150 small plants are only worth $1000, not $60000…another crime, misrepresentation of the facts and conflict of interest with lawyers just following the law…there were some other public servants just following orders 2015 years ago…they nail Jesus to the cross “just following the law”. don’t forget history; “they came for the jews”