A grandmother in her late 60s grew a commercial quantity of cannabis in her backyard so her sons didn't have to buy it from drug dealers, a court has heard.

Age Kolaj, 69, told police the 11 marijuana plants found in her Melton backyard were grown to help keep her family together, the County Court heard on Monday.

Age Kolaj outside the County Court. Credit:Jim Aldersey

The court heard the plants weighed 57 kilograms, enough for a charge of trafficking to be laid, but that the prosecution conceded it was not Mrs Kolaj's intention to sell it for profit.

Instead, prosecutor Catharine Sedgwick said, Mrs Kolaj grew the cannabis for her husband and for their two sons, so they wouldn't have to buy drugs or "pinch things" from others.