A Perth man was caught “green handed” with eight cannabis plants after officers visited his home on an unrelated matter.
Ryan Wylie (29) was found with a number of plants at various levels of development at the home he shares with his grandfather.
Wylie, of Cairns Court, Perth, admitted producing the class B drug in October.
Depute fiscal Stuart Richardson said: “Mr Wylie totally cooperated with the police.”
Sheriff Robert McCreadie said: “He was caught green handed.”
The plants were discovered in his bedroom, which he had locked to prevent entry.
Mr Richardson said: “He has some sort of security device on his bedroom door. I think he lives with his grandfather.
“The cultivation had not got very far and the police found three plants that were fully grown, two plants that were in the process of growing and three seedings that had just been planted.”
He said the estimated value of the farm was £50.
Defence agent Jamie Baxter said Wylie had taken to using cannabis to alleviate his mental health problems, a claim disputed by Sheriff McCreadie.
Mr Baxter said: “Both himself and his grand-father have health issues. His grandfather is in the Murray Royal Hospital and Mr Wylie is an out-patient at the Murray Royal Hospital.
“The cannabis was for his own use. He knows that when he was taking cannabis he was less stressed.”
Sheriff McCreadie pointed out that use of the drug has been linked with several psychiatric conditions.
He said: “Cannabis has been linked to mental health problems, like schizophrenia and paranoia.
“You don’t take cannabis if you have mental health issues.”
He warned that the drug can pave the way for the use of harder drugs.
“Cannabis is a door opener for more serious drugs,” he said.
Baxter added that since being caught Wylie had requested a change of medication from his doctor. Sheriff McCreadie fined Wylie £200.