A Dunedin pensioner grew nearly quarter a million dollars worth of marijuana a year because his pension was not enough, a court has been told.



Maurice David Didham, 72, who appeared in Dunedin District Court yesterday, had 200 four-week-old cannabis plants growing in soil in his bathroom last August, the Otago Daily Times reported.



With an average yield of $1200 per plant, the potential return was $240,000, police prosecutor Sergeant Tom Scouller said.



Police also found 657g of dried cannabis, which they estimated to be worth $6900, as well as tinfoil, resealable plastic bags and a set of scales.



Didham told police he was continuously growing the cannabis in three-month cycles and he needed the money to survive because his pension was not enough.



He admitted cultivating and possessing cannabis for the purpose of sale and was convicted and remanded on bail for sentence on March 21.