Stephen McCauley favoured the self-medication approach, but came unstuck when police uncovered his back-yard crop of 52 cannabis plants.

Both he and the second of his three sons, Matthew Joshua McCauley, grew the cannabis for their own use.

It was noted in the Myrtleford Magistrate’s Court how the older man — who largely stayed at home because of an anxiety disorder — was handy in the garden.

Prosecutor Leading Sen-Constable Heath Dosser remarked with a smile that yes, photographs taken of the cannabis plants also revealed “quite a healthy-looking crop of corn”.

The father and son said they both smoked at least 30 grams of cannabis a week.

Their production line meant there were bags of cannabis all around their Mount Beauty rental house.

Most of the bags contained leftover “rubbish” from last year’s crop.

Magistrate Ian Watkins was told that the cannabis was not suitable for use.

Mr Watkins said that didn’t matter — it was illegal regardless, especially given it weighed about 1.5 kilograms.

“You still wouldn’t want to put it in your surfboard bag and take it to Bali,” he said.

The pair yesterday pleaded guilty, through separate lawyers, to charges, including cultivating and using cannabis.

Mr Watkins treated the case against Joshua McCauley more seriously, given he also faced firearms charges involving two rifles found on his bedroom floor.

McCauley junior, 26, is a licensed shooter and the firearms were registered.

But he had failed to secure them after a shooting trip the night before police uncovered the drug crop at the Kiewa Crescent home on January 19.

Sen-Constable Dosser said police, armed with a warrant went to the men’s home about 8.30am.

Stephen McCauley, 56, had answered the front door and admitted he was growing cannabis plants in his back garden. His son was working in Albury that morning.

McCauley was also found to be in possession of a crossbow and arrows, while his son had a flick knife in a bedroom drawer, He also had a set of scales.

Mr Watkins told McCauley he was prepared to take into account his previous good record.

But he warned him to keep well away from the drug, pointing out its harmful effects far outweighed any short-term pain relief.

“On any view, this is a lot of cannabis.”

Mr Watkins said the older man’s efforts to get treatment for his medical and mental health issues had to be commended.

He convicted him and placed him on a 12 month bond.

He also ordered he pay $750 into the court fund.

Mr Watkins told Matthew McCauley of the dangers of firearms not being locked away in a gun cabinet when they were not being used.

Too often, he said, such firearms were targeted during break-ins and ended up in the hands of criminals.

Mr Watkins convicted and fined him $1200, with $113.90 in court costs.