Wellington, Oct 10 NZPA - A Nelson man has been jailed for two years for running a sophisticated cannabis-growing operation.

Matthew Parrott, 34, jeweller, appeared in Nelson District Court for sentencing yesterday, after earlier pleading guilty to charges of possessing cannabis for supply and cultivating cannabis.

At an earlier hearing, police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Stringer said police found 1.814kg of very high-quality cannabis head, worth an estimated $19,382, when they searched Parrott's Kaiteriteri home in June, the Nelson Mail reported today.

Another 5.669kg of lower-quality cannabis, worth about $20,000, was also found. Three separate growing areas were found in the house, one of which was used as a nursery.

Mr Stringer said the scale of the operation was commercial, and Parrott could have earned $145,800 a year from it.

Defence lawyer Brett Daniell-Smith said a large part of Parrott's cannabis use was because he was brought up around the drug and started using it at a young age.

Judge David McKegg accepted that Parrott's upbringing had sparked his drug use, which led to gang involvement and a criminal history that included five drug offences.

Parrott was sentenced to two years in jail and denied leave to apply for home detention.

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