[420 Girl]

Green-leafed plants were discovered growing behind a false wall in a cannabis campaigner’s Peterhead flat, a court heard yesterday.

Police uncovered the suspected marijuana plants, with seedlings, leaves, lamps and other equipment, during a raid on the home of activist Paul Cruickshank, who stood for the Legalise Cannabis Alliance in the last general election.

Cruickshank later told officers the six plants were cannabis and he had been growing them to treat his depression.

The 34-year-old went on trial at Peterhead Sheriff Court accused of producing the class C substance at his home, 6E Crossfolds Crescent, on September 7 last year.

Cruickshank denies the single charge against him.

A jury of nine women and six men heard that police called at his home on a separate matter just before noon that day.

During their visit, Constable Lee Scott came across an enclosure with several seedlings growing under hot lamps.

Police were granted a formal warrant to carry out a thorough search of the property.

As well as the seedlings found in the loft, officers found leaves drying in an airing cupboard and traces of herbal substances on a board in the sitting room.

Constable Scott, 34, told the court he searched a second cupboard in the hallway.

“When I opened the cupboard there appeared to be a blank wall with pictures hanging on it,” he said.

Police became suspicious when they spotted cables running through the wall.

Behind it were the six plants which were taken away for laboratory analysis.

Also taken from the flat were two smoking pipes and magazines including Cannatalk “for serious growers.”

Cruickshank, defending himself in court, said police had taken a knife which he had been using to carve candle sculptures, but had left a pair of scissors which had cannabis on them.

He went on to ask: “Do you believe a cure for cancer should be illegal?”

Constable Scott replied: “I can’t speak for legislation that has been set down by the government.”

The court heard that, during a police interview, Cruickshank said: “I don’t believe cannabis should be illegal.”

The trial, before Sheriff Marysia Lewis, continues today.

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