The Hawke's Bay Hospital worker who took a cake laced with cannabis to a shared meal with colleagues has been sentenced to three months home detention.
At sentencing in the Hastings District Court yesterday, it was revealed the outpatient's unit was shut down for the day after multiple staff members ate the cake and felt ill.
Two staff members had to be treated in the Emergency Department, one saying they were severely unwell and having to be transferred by wheelchair.
Former hospital worker Michelle Webster was employed in the outpatients' team at the time of the incident.
The 54-year-old was charged with administering a Class B drug namely cannabis oil to a person.
The court heard Webster regularly consumed cannabis.
Two days prior to the hospital incident, she made a butter substance with cannabis and provided it to a friend who baked a cake. After consuming the cake and feeling fine, she took a cake to a shared work meal where it was consumed by numerous colleagues.
Her contribution to the morning tea resulted in colleagues reporting various symptoms and led to the workplace to shut down for the day, as multiple staff members went home sick and two ended up in the Emergency Department.
Judge Bridget Mackintosh read some of the main victim's impact statement to the court – highlighting she suffered "very serious effects" because of eating the cake.
"She had no idea of course, as did nobody, that there was any cannabis contained in the cake. She had some in the morning teatime as did others and, in her lunch break, began to feel dizzy,” Mackintosh said.
“She ended up being in a situation where she couldn’t move her arms and sought help from colleges. At one point, she was anxious because of what was happening to her.
"Ultimately, she ended up in a wheelchair, being taken to ED."
As a result of the incident, Webster resigned from her role at the hospital the following day.
Defence lawyer Cam Robertson said Webster was hugely remorseful.
"The defendant has no previous convictions, [it's] very unlikely she’ll be back before the courts. She’s seen the victim impact statement and... she’s responded appropriately."
Both parties agreed on a sentencing start point of 12 months imprisonment, as the police prosecutor noted the suffering of the victim.
“There were serious consequences for this victim and, given where the offence took place, there was a chance for... some of the patients to be affected.”
Judge Mackintosh said the number of people impacted was an aggravating factor but noted mitigating factors, including a very early guilty plea, meant the sentence could be reduced to home detention.
The judge also pointed out the offence was, "thankfully a very rare occurrence".
"I do think you are very remorseful about this and you, of course, you have no prior convictions,” Mackintosh concluded.
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