A schoolchild fell sick after eating weed gummies obtained from 24-year-old Phuc Tran. Photo: ACT Policing.
A drug dealer who sold cannabis-laced “gummies” to schoolchildren will remain behind bars.
Phuc Tran, 24, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday (20 June) for sentencing over a series of charges relating to the sale of drugs and vapes.
He had been arrested in September 2024, when a schoolchild became sick after eating so-called “weed gummies” they obtained from a different student.
On Friday, Magistrate James Lawton said selling to children were “most serious” charges and acknowledged the offending was committed on an ongoing basis.
“I am effectively sentencing the defendant for a course of conduct over three months,” he said.
During their investigation, police were told by another student that they had “purchased the gummies and cookies” from Tran at least twice.
Magistrate Lawson also said that Tran had been selling vapes for “about $45 in the period to various buyers” and that he had made “significant deposits” into his account.
During sentencing, the court heard that Tran, who was on a student visa, started selling drugs after experiencing cash flow difficulties. His visa has since been cancelled.
Magistrate Lawton said the community had to be discouraged from similar offending.
“[In sentencing, there] must be a strong element of deterrence to send a message to the community that the people who engage in [this kind of offending for] personal or financial gain should expect to receive [punishment],” he said.
He also said that Tran’s rehabilitation would have “a much lesser role than it would have ordinarily” played, given his financial motivation for offending.
Tran had entered an early guilty plea, which saw his sentence discounted. He also had no criminal history.
Magistrate Lawton sentenced Tran to one year imprisonment. He will be released in September 2025, as his sentence was backdated to account for time in custody.
He was also fined a total of $7500.
Erratum: I said "generated near 100 GWH" when the correct figure is in TWH, a thousand times more. View