But an unrepentant Borland said he would continue to defy the country's marijuana laws when he was released.
"When I experienced the joys of cannabis for the first time in 1973 it wasn't illegal ... it was banned the following year in 1974," he said.
"I could not see any reason why it should be banned, 38 years later I still feel the same way."
Borland said dope prohibition had only made many thousands of ordinary Kiwis criminals, and claimed there were up to 700,000 people in the country who smoked the drug regularly.
However, relieving Whangarei police area commander Inspector Tracy Phillips said officers had a responsibility to enforce the law, and that includes illicit drug cultivation, dealing and manufacturing.
"Cannabis is prolific in Northland and has negative impacts on our communities, particularly our young people," Mr Phillips said.
"It is also associated with other criminal activities such as burglary and violence. If anyone is caught growing or dealing in this or other drugs then we will take action."
Northland is the cannabis capital of the country, with a third of the marijuana plants seized and destroyed by police in six-month long, nationwide operations targeting drug growers and dealers grown in the region.