Geraldton court: Kandice Louise Simpson and Amanda Lavern Justine Simpson jailed for plan to sell cannabis

Two women who planned to sell cannabis in Geraldton to help support their struggling families are now behind bars. Kandice Louise Simpson, 36, and Amanda Lavern Justine Simpson, 39, were both sentenced to eight months prison last week after being charged with possession of a prohibited drug with the intent to supply or sell earlier this year. The District Court was told the pair had been driving from Perth to Geraldton when they were stopped by police near Dongara about 6.30pm on January 29, with officers finding 1.092kg of cannabis in the car. Amanda Simpson’s lawyer, Eva Svanburg, told the court the women had intended to sell 653g of the drug, with the remaining 439g being delivered to a third party for no payment. Kandice Simpson’s lawyer, Kate Fry, said her client was not a drug user and had had a “relatively stable” employment history until she was unable to work for about five months last year because of her “out-of-control” diabetes. Ms Fry said Kandice Simpson was in “dire financial strife” after having no income for months and had intended to sell the cannabis “entirely for commercial gain”. Ms Svanburg said Amanda Simpson was also under pressure to provide for her family, including her four children, newborn grandchild and her mother, who suffered from diabetes and heart issues. Judge David MacLean acknowledged the “family hardship issues” affecting both women, saying their actions had been a “self-help remedy” to support their loved ones rather than plans to “enrich” themselves. But he said the offending was “too serious” not to impose a term of imprisonment. “Drugs cause terrible harm to the community and there is a demonstrated connection between cannabis and mental illness,” he said. They were both given eight months jail and will be eligible for parole after four months.