A “indignant and enraged” young man phoned the police after his father set fire to his stock of cannabis.
Police officers were called to an address in the small town of Humpty Doo, Northern Territory, Australia, at around 6.30pm on Monday after the man’s “prized” plants had been burnt in a bonfire during an argument.
The son called the police as he “felt [the destruction of the plants] was wrong and reported the matter”, having recently moved from another state a short time ago.
Officers asked the man “whether he was aware that possession of cannabis was unlawful and he could be liable to prosecution for the same”, to which he is reported to have said he “believed that the destruction of the [plants] was far worse than the possession in the first instance.”
Northern Territory Police Force shared the story in a viral Facebook post, in which Duty Superintendent Louise Jorgensen also confirmed “no charges have been laid” against the man at this point.
She concluded the post by saying: “The evidence has been destroyed. Along with his reputation.”
The man is said to have moved out to live with other relatives since the incident.
The possession and growing of cannabis in Northern Territory remains a criminal offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1981.
In April this year, Victoria became first Australian state to legalise medical cannabis.
Children with severe epilepsy will be given first access to medicinal cannabis starting from early 2017.
Cannabis is reported to be the most widely used illicit drug in Australia, with one-third of all Australians aged 22 or older having tried cannabis.
