Pubdate: Fri, 08 Jun 2001 Source: Press, The (New Zealand) Copyright: 2001 The Christchurch Press Company Ltd. Contact: http://www.press.co.nz/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/349 MAN ARGUES KILO OF DRUG WAS FOR SELF-MEDICATION A convicted drug dealer from the West Coast has been jailed after being caught with almost a kilogram of high-quality cannabis, which he claimed was a year's personal supply to deal with his chronic back pain. Christchurch District Court Judge Stephen Erber said the 945g of cannabis found with Kumara sawmiller David Ian Houlahan, 39, was worth $8200, and that value would have been even higher when it was packaged for sale in bullet form. Notwithstanding his claim that he self-medicated with cannabis to deal with chronic pain problems and had bought a year's supply in one hit, Houlahan pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale on the basis that some of it would have been sold. The judge said Houlahan had an extensive criminal history, including a previous jail term nine years ago for cannabis dealing, and had been caught with a set of electronic scales. It was likely that a significant amount of the cannabis would have been sold. David Ruth, defending, said Houlahan turned to cannabis after doctors became concerned at his "outrageous" consumption of Pethidine to control his back pain. He now accepted he would have to resort to prescribed methods of pain relief. Judge Erber said Houlahan's possession of the cannabis had a strong commercial element, making a jail term inevitable. He was sentenced to 15 months jail, and the judge refused to open the way for Houlahan to apply for home detention, finding instead that the defendant was likely to continue using cannabis. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom