A Lambton County woman who pleaded guilty to marijuana production claims it relieved her arthritis for decades and soothed her goats’ skin sores.

Karen Louise Wade, 61, of Plympton-Wyoming recently pleaded guilty in Sarnia court to growing 87 marijuana plants on her property and was fined $2,500.

On Sept. 22, 2016 the OPP raided her property finding 87 plants growing adjacent to bushes and hedges. Some of the plants were six-feet high making them easier to spot, the court was told.

At the time of Wade’s arrest the OPP claimed the plants had a value of $87,000.

Wade had been prescribed percocet for her arthritis pain but she did not like the chemical and turned to marijuana 20 years ago, said defence lawyer Nick Cake.

Wade is a goat breeder and produced a marijuana ointment she applied to the animals’ skin sores. It soothed the animals and was also helpful in the treatment of hoof ailments on horses, said Cake.

Wade, who had no criminal record, said she uses all kinds of herbs.

That was fine as long as the herbs were legal, said Justice Mark Hornblower.

None of the marijuana was for commercial purposes, said Cake.

Since the offence Wade has obtained a prescription for the medical use of marijuana and her spouse now has a grower’s licence.

The limits of the both government permits would have been exceeded by the operation discovered by the OPP. The spouse’s licence allows him 14 plants.

Wade’s non-commercial use of the marijuana puts it in a different category compared to those who grow it for profit, said Hornblower.

Hornblower accepted a joint submission by Crown and defence lawyers for a $2,500 fine.

A mandatory victim surcharge pushed the financial penalty to $3,250.

Wade was also put on a year’s probation when she cannot possess drugs unless lawfully prescribed.

Charges against her spouse were withdrawn.

The federal government plans to have legislation legalizing marijuana in place by June 2018.

nbowen@postmedia.com