A KERANG man has been fined almost $3000 after pleading guilty in Bendigo Magistrates Court to drug and assault charges.Steven Longstaff, 48, pleaded guilty yesterday to possessing, using and cultivating almost 350 grams of cannabis and 28 grams of cannabis seeds.He also pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful assault causing injury.Prosecutor Senior Constable Len Ladner said police searched Longstaff’s property in July 2008 and found the cannabis stored in small sealed plastic bags, large plastic bags, large paper bags and small bowls.He said the cannabis seeds were stored in clearly marked containers.Defence Lawyer Annette Wood said Longstaff suffered from a heart condition and found using cannabis worked well for him. “He is aware of the consequences of using cannabis, however, he feels it is an advantage medically,” she said.Longstaff again came to the attention of police in March this year after he was accused of attacking a friend.Senior Constable Ladner said Longstaff became violent after his friend’s dog started jumping on him.Ms Wood said the outburst was a result of many years of cannabis abuse, and Longstaff had suffered a flashback to when his cat was killed by dogs.She said Longstaff had admitted to smoking cannabis at the time of the assault, which could have led to his paranoia.She also said he was aware of the consequences and was extremely remorseful for his actions.Magistrate Bruce Cottrill said the assault was disturbing because the victim had invited Longstaff into his home.He acknowledged the assault was probably a side effect of long-term cannabis use, but it was no excuse.He convicted and fined Longstaff $2816.