A man caught growing cannabis plants in his home claimed in court he did not think he was doing anything illegal.
Police officers went to the Dunfermline home of Paul Phoenix because water was entering the flat below.
When he answered the door, there was “an overpowering smell of cannabis”, depute fiscal Dev Kapadia told Dunfermline Sheriff Court.
Police discovered eight cannabis plants.
Phoenix, 38, of St Margaret Street, admitted producing cannabis on October 2.
Mr Kapadia said the plants had a total value of between £1,760 and £6,000, depending on yield.
Representing himself, Phoenix said: “The use of my cannabis has been purely medicinal. It was invaluable to me.”
He claimed he did not know he was doing anything illegal.
“I thought the law was changing and it had been decriminalised for medicinal use.”
He asked for reporting restrictions put in place preventing the use of his name and address.
Asked why, he said he did not want people going to his door “asking about my grow”.
He said this had already happened. Sheriff Reekie pointed out that the case had not been reported on yet.
“It must have been word-of-mouth,” Phoenix replied.
Phoenix will be sentenced on September 18.
