Medicinal cannabis advocate Rose Renton has been discharged without conviction for cultivating cannabis for medicinal purposes.
Renton appeared in the Nelson District Court on Monday after previously pleading guilty to one charge of cultivating cannabis for medicinal purposes.
Three other charges including possession, processing and possession for supply were previously discharged without conviction in November.
- 'It is not enough': Campaigner blasts Government's medicinal cannabis bill as weak, clueless
- 'We could fix that': Government's changes to medicinal cannabis Bill
- Exclusive: National planning its own medicinal cannabis Bill
- Medicinal cannabis: Government's new proposal for faster, easier access
Renton is widely known for being a 'green fairy' - a term used to describe cannabis growers and suppliers who help patients on compassionate grounds.
She became a prominent campaigner for medicinal cannabis reform after she fought for her son Alex to be treated with CBD oil.
Alex became the first New Zealander to be treated with CBD after sign-off from then-Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne.
He died in July 2015, aged 19, after an acute, prolonged epileptic seizure.
Since his passing, Renton campaigned for the Government to make cannabis-based medications available in New Zealand.
In court on Monday, Judge David Ruth said the nature of Renton's offending was 'altrusic' and was motivated by wanting to help others.
A conviction would likely cause difficulties to Renton and stop her ability to travel overseas.
The public gallery erupted in applause when Judge Ruth said she had been discharged without conviction.
Outside court, she was greeted with hugs and congratulations.
Renton said it was a huge relief and thanked everyone for their support.
"[It's] a huge relief and really quite emotional.
"And Alex [would be] so proud today of each and every one of us, not just his crazy mother. He probably chose the right person because he knew I would never give up. It's about the people and about looking after each other and it's about community."
Newshub.
