Pot Crusader vows to continue dealing

Pot crusader Grant Krieger says he will provide marijuana to others for
medicinal purposes starting today after winning a precedent-setting legal
case Wednesday.

The 47-year-old, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, vowed to continue no
matter how many times he is charged for trafficking.

"I'm ready to start providing medicine for people who are ill," Krieger
said Wednesday evening outside Court of Queen's Bench.

"For people who are ill, this is very groundbreaking for them. It's a
basic necessity... I'm prepared to continue doing this for as long as
necessary."

Krieger, who said he once attempted suicide because no medical intervention
had helped alleviate his crippling illness, told reporters more research
should be done to determine why the drug helps ease pain.

After seven hours of deliberation, a jury of 11 women and one man acquitted
Krieger on a charge of possessing marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

Krieger was embraced by his family as he left the courtroom a free man.

The evidence has never been so clear (sic) such a case.

Krieger, who has been fighting in the courts for more than five years to
change the marijuana laws, was charged after police came to his home on
Bowness Rd. N.W. on Aug.25, 1999 to arrest another man on warrants.

They discovered a grow operation and various drug paraphernalia.

During his trail, Krieger admitted he had a 29-plant grow operation at his
home and supplied the drug to others.

Because of his illness, Krieger is permitted to grow marijuana to ease his
pain, and believes he is not doing anything illegal by making it available
to others.

Some of those people, he testified, have chronic illnesses and threatened
suicide because they had no other viable options.

His lawyer, Adriano Iovinelli, said his client sold or gave, through his
Universal Compassion Club, marijuana to people who have given up on
conventional medicine.

"Mr. Krieger believes what he is doing is not wrong," Iovinelli told the jury.

"He believes he is supplying medicine they can't get anywhere else."

During his closing address Wednesday morning, Iovinelli admitted his client
did it.

"From the get-go, we've admitted he was cultivating (for the purpose of
trafficking)," Iovinelli said.

"What harm is he doing? He is alleviating the suffering of individuals...
There's nothing wrong with what he's doing."

He said such cases are difficult for a jury.

"They're dealing with what they may feel in their hearts is the right thing
to do and what the law of Canada says," the lawyer explained.

"I believe they've done the right thing by acquitting him."

Iovinelli said the case would force the Government of Canada to reassess
the laws reqarding marijuana.

"I see this as a beginning," he said.

"It's because of cases like Grant Krieger and because of jury trials that
the government hears the public's reaction to what the legislation is right
now.

"When you have a jury coming back and acquitting Grant Krieger under these
circumstances, it's a message to government; we've got to change the laws."

The law gives people an exemption to cultivate pot and use it for medicinal
purposes, but it does not give them a legal source to obtain marijuana.

Crown prosecutor Scott Couper argued during the trial that there was no
imminent peril that allowed Krieger to supply the drug.


Newshawk: The Cannabis Link http://www.drugsense.org/tcl
Pubdate: Thurs, 21 June 2001
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2001 Calgary Herald
Contact: letters@theherald.southam.ca
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Author: Scott Crowson