Dagga-growing doc avoids jail
24/08/2006 12:54  - (SA)  

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Newcastle - A doctor convicted for growing almost 50 000 marijuana plants avoided a prison sentence on Thursday after analysis found his dope was a dud.

Andrew John Katelaris was convicted in March on a charge of cultivating a large commercial quantity of cannabis after police found 49 519 plants on his property near Newcastle, about 125km north of Sydney.

In a sentencing hearing on Thursday, a New South Wales state district court heard evidence that Katelaris' crop contained such low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC - cannabis's key psychoactive ingredient - that it had no value as a drug.

Judge Ralph Coolahan said he would hand down his sentence on September 12, but that Katelaris would not face prison time.

The state medical tribunal has already revoked Katelaris' licence for three years for using marijuana and distributing it to patients.

- AP

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