Australian man calls police after father burns his cannabis plants

A young man from Australia's Northern Territory called the police on Tuesday (5 July) evening after his father set fire to his cannabis plants. Police visited the Humpty Doo residence, 40km south of Darwin, and confirmed the allegation.

The "indignant and enraged" man claimed the two of them had a fight just before the incident. "As retribution his father burnt the son's prized cannabis plants in a bonfire on the property. The son felt this was wrong and reported the matter to police," duty superintendent Louise Jorgensen said.

Police interrogated the young man and asked whether he knew possession of cannabis is unlawful. The Misuse of Drugs Act makes it illegal to possess cannabis.

"He seemed to believe that the destruction of the same was far worse than the possession in the first instance," Jorgensen added.

The Misuse of Drugs Act states that "the manufacture or preparation of a prohibited drug or prohibited plant for use; or the manufacture, preparation, sale, supply or use of a prohibited drug or prohibited plant", are illegal in Northern Territory.

The police are entitled to issue an on the spot fine for "personal use" of cannabis. However, they filed no charges against the man and said: "The evidence has been destroyed. Along with his reputation."

The police claimed that the man had been fighting with his father ever since they moved from interstate some time ago. The man has now reportedly shifted to a relative's place.