Pubdate: Thu, 23 Jul 2015
Source: Sudbury Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 Osprey Media
Contact: http://www.thesudburystar.com/letters
Website: http://www.thesudburystar.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/608
Author: Harold Carmichael,
Page: A2

MAN WAS 'GROWING' HIS OWN PAIN RELIEF

A Chelmsford man who was found with more than two dozen marijuana
plants in his basement in an attempt to grow his own pain medication
has been given a six-month conditional sentence.

"It's not 10 or five plants, but 27, leading police to believe more
than pain relief was the objective here," noted federal prosecutor
Serge Treherne on Wednesday in the Ontario Court of Justice.

He was referring to the discovery of the plants in Steven Silesky's
home following a tip to police.

"There are alternatives to pain relief," Treherne said. You don't grow
it in your backyard. You don't turn your home into a grow operation."

Silesky, 45, who had a prior criminal record that included a drug
conviction, had pleaded guilty to production of a controlled substance
(marijuana).

Justice Andrew Buttazzoni accepted a joint sentencing submission from
Treherne and defence lawyer Robert Beckett that Silesky receive a
six-month conditional sentence. He will be on house arrest for the
first four months, then a curfew for the last two months.

He was also hit with 10-year weapons ban, and one year probation,
which includes the condition that he not possess or consume illegal
drugs.

In addition, Silesky was ordered to provide a genetic sample to the
national DNA databank.

Silesky told the judge he had seen doctors and a specialist to deal
with back pain, and was told he should have his back fused or find
some alternative method of pain relief.

He said he could have turned to buying drugs on the street, but chose
not to.

"I know people who have been on opiates and it's not something I would
really like to pursue," he said.

The court heard Greater Sudbury Police got a tip in early October
there was a marijuana grow operation in a Chelmsford residence and
Silesky was identified as the person running it.

A search warrant was executed at the residence Oct. 8 and officers
found 27 marijuana plants, 55.92 grams of marijuana, and 156.94 grams
of marijuana shake (stem parts and seeds).

The total estimated street value of the marijuana was
$27,600.

Beckett said Silesky, who works in the mining field, was growing the
marijuana to address his pain.

"He is in a continual amount of pain on a regular basis," said the
lawyer. "He was not intending to sell, but use the product on his own."
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MAP posted-by: Matt