Cannabis growhouse uncovered in Glenthompson

Elisa Crespi, 56, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Monday to cultivating cannabis.

The court heard a police search warrant conducted at Crespi's home on March 16 uncovered a large greenhouse structure containing 70 cannabis plants ranging from 150 millimetres to 2.35 metres in height.

Police also located a drying rack set up in the living room, numerous black tubes containing liquids for cultivation, various jars of dried cannabis and a journal.

The journal detailed the lengthy cultivation of cannabis with the first entry recorded on October 1, 2017 and the last on February 10 this year.

The notes included diagrams, lists of the pH level of plants and mixtures used in the cultivation.

Crespi attended Hamilton police station by appointment on March 17.

During an interview, she admitted to being solely responsible for the cultivation of cannabis at her home.

She said she was a daily user for medical reasons, including being diagnosed with cancer and having debilitating back pain after being hit by a CFA truck while volunteering at a fire in South Australia in 2007.

The court heard the cannabis weighed a combined 68 kilograms, which exceeds the threshold for a commercial quantity.

But a prosecutor said it was not alleged that Crespi intended to cultivate in a commercial quantity, or sell the drugs to others.

Magistrate John Lesser said he was satisfied Crespi was cultivating the drug for personal use, rather than involving herself in the trafficking of illicit drugs.

But he said an aggravating feature was that Crespi was placed on a community correction order for similar offending just 18 months before the long period of cultivation recommenced in 2017.

The magistrate ordered Crespi to be assessed for another correction order.

She will be sentenced on October 1.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: