T
The420Guy
Guest
Some criminals devise creative ways to smuggle drugs into prison, but not
Grant Krieger. The multiple sclerosis sufferer plans to pack a bag with
marijuana Monday, hop on a Calgary transit bus to the police station and go
to jail for not paying fines.
Armed with a judge's recent decision allowing him to grow and cultivate
marijuana for medical purposes, Krieger believes it's his right to bring
his own brand of "medicine" to prison.
"The judge didn't tell me I'm not able to possess marijuana in jail,"
Krieger, 46, said. "I'll smoke it in my cell."
But Alberta Justice officials said there's no way Krieger will be allowed
to have cannabis in jail.
"It would certainly be confiscated," said Alberta Justice spokesman Bart
Johnson.
"We have our own guidelines, policies of what is considered contraband and
what is not, and marijuana clearly falls within the category that is
considered contraband."
Calgary lawyer Adriano Iovinelli, who has defended Krieger in court dozens
of times, said the judge's ruling does not permit him to bring it to many
places, including prison.
"A judge's order would not supersede the regulations of an institution,"
Iovinelli said.
"For example, he has the right to cultivate and possess but if he goes into
the United States he cannot bring his medicine there."
The lawyer pointed out prisoners can't bring their own tobacco to prison.
They have to buy it from the canteen.
Last month, Krieger won a landmark court ruling allowing him to grow and
possess pot to alleviate the pain he suffers from multiple sclerosis.
Court of Queen's Bench Justice Darlene Acton said a federal act that
exempts medically ill Canadians from a criminal drug charge is absurd
because there isn't a legal marijuana supply. The province is appealing the
decision.
Krieger maintains eating and smoking marijuana helps control the symptoms
of his multiple sclerosis, a progressive, chronic disease of the nervous
system that can cause tremors, paralysis and speech defects.
Last October, Krieger was fined $350 and $850 for twice breaching probation
orders. A provincial court judge gave Krieger until Monday to pay the $350
fine.
Krieger said he has no intention of paying and prefers to serve jail time,
which will likely amount to 22 days for both fines.
It's not the first time Krieger has gone to prison.
He was jailed for 16 days in 1999 when he refused to pay fines for growing
and supplying marijuana to other sick and dying people who are members of
his Universal Compassion Club.
After a week in jail without marijuana, Krieger became so weak he needed a
wheelchair to get around.
He has been to court more than 30 times in his fight to legally grow,
smoke, eat and supply marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Provincial officials question Krieger's motives in bringing to jail more
than 100 grams of pot - more than 200 marijuana cigarettes.
"It sounds a bit like a stunt," Johnson said. "Why is he not paying the fine?"
Krieger plans to turn himself over to authorities around noon Monday.
Newshawk: Cannabis News - marijuana, hemp, and cannabis news
Pubdate: Sun, 21 Jan 2001
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2001 Calgary Herald
Contact: letters@theherald.southam.ca
Address: P.O. Box 2400, Stn. M, Calgary, Alberta T2P 0W8
Fax: (403) 235-7379
Feedback: Calgary Herald
Website: Calgary Herald
Forum: https://forums.canada.com/~calgary
Author: Carol Harrington
Grant Krieger. The multiple sclerosis sufferer plans to pack a bag with
marijuana Monday, hop on a Calgary transit bus to the police station and go
to jail for not paying fines.
Armed with a judge's recent decision allowing him to grow and cultivate
marijuana for medical purposes, Krieger believes it's his right to bring
his own brand of "medicine" to prison.
"The judge didn't tell me I'm not able to possess marijuana in jail,"
Krieger, 46, said. "I'll smoke it in my cell."
But Alberta Justice officials said there's no way Krieger will be allowed
to have cannabis in jail.
"It would certainly be confiscated," said Alberta Justice spokesman Bart
Johnson.
"We have our own guidelines, policies of what is considered contraband and
what is not, and marijuana clearly falls within the category that is
considered contraband."
Calgary lawyer Adriano Iovinelli, who has defended Krieger in court dozens
of times, said the judge's ruling does not permit him to bring it to many
places, including prison.
"A judge's order would not supersede the regulations of an institution,"
Iovinelli said.
"For example, he has the right to cultivate and possess but if he goes into
the United States he cannot bring his medicine there."
The lawyer pointed out prisoners can't bring their own tobacco to prison.
They have to buy it from the canteen.
Last month, Krieger won a landmark court ruling allowing him to grow and
possess pot to alleviate the pain he suffers from multiple sclerosis.
Court of Queen's Bench Justice Darlene Acton said a federal act that
exempts medically ill Canadians from a criminal drug charge is absurd
because there isn't a legal marijuana supply. The province is appealing the
decision.
Krieger maintains eating and smoking marijuana helps control the symptoms
of his multiple sclerosis, a progressive, chronic disease of the nervous
system that can cause tremors, paralysis and speech defects.
Last October, Krieger was fined $350 and $850 for twice breaching probation
orders. A provincial court judge gave Krieger until Monday to pay the $350
fine.
Krieger said he has no intention of paying and prefers to serve jail time,
which will likely amount to 22 days for both fines.
It's not the first time Krieger has gone to prison.
He was jailed for 16 days in 1999 when he refused to pay fines for growing
and supplying marijuana to other sick and dying people who are members of
his Universal Compassion Club.
After a week in jail without marijuana, Krieger became so weak he needed a
wheelchair to get around.
He has been to court more than 30 times in his fight to legally grow,
smoke, eat and supply marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Provincial officials question Krieger's motives in bringing to jail more
than 100 grams of pot - more than 200 marijuana cigarettes.
"It sounds a bit like a stunt," Johnson said. "Why is he not paying the fine?"
Krieger plans to turn himself over to authorities around noon Monday.
Newshawk: Cannabis News - marijuana, hemp, and cannabis news
Pubdate: Sun, 21 Jan 2001
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2001 Calgary Herald
Contact: letters@theherald.southam.ca
Address: P.O. Box 2400, Stn. M, Calgary, Alberta T2P 0W8
Fax: (403) 235-7379
Feedback: Calgary Herald
Website: Calgary Herald
Forum: https://forums.canada.com/~calgary
Author: Carol Harrington
