Police found cannabis worth almost $40,000 when they searched a Nelson man's home in June.
Matthew Parrott, 34, a jeweller, pleaded guilty to one charge of cultivating cannabis and one charge of possessing the drug when he appeared in Nelson District Court yesterday.
The Nelson Mail reported Parrott could have earned $145,800 a year through the cannabis growing operation found at his Kaiteriteri home, according to police.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Stringer said police found 1814g of very high-quality, or "primo", cannabis head, worth an estimated $19,382, when they searched Parrott's home in June. Another 5669g of lower-quality cannabis, worth about $20,000, was also found.
Defence lawyer Brett Daniell-Smith said Parrott had changed his life as a result of the charges, and there was every possibility he would be eligible for home detention.
Judge Richard Russell remanded Parrott in custody for sentencing on October 7, and told Parrott the likely outcome was a prison term, due to the scale of the operation.
