cannabisnews.com: Activist Can Grow Own Medicinal Pot: Ruling





Activist Can Grow Own Medicinal Pot: Ruling
Posted by FoM on December 12, 2000 at 08:45:12 PT
By Robert Remington
Source: National Post 
An Alberta judge yesterday criticized the "absurdity" of federal government exemptions for medicinal use of marijuana because there is no legal supply of cannabis for sick people who need it.Justice Darlene Acton of Alberta's Court of Queen's Bench made the comment in ruling that marijuana activist Grant Krieger, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, can grow cannabis for his own use. 
She stayed a charge against Mr. Krieger for growing and cultivating marijuana for one year, by which time she hopes the federal government will have sorted out the legal conundrum.The exemptions announced in May, 1999, by Allan Rock, the Minister of Health, allow people to apply to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. As of October, 72 such exemptions under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act have been granted. But because there is no legal way for sick people to obtain marijuana, an exemption merely "triggers an absurdity [in the law] that has not been addressed," Judge Acton said. "To obtain it, they must participate in an illegal act," she said."I am troubled that the Government of Canada has not made any legal sources available to the Canadian public," she added.Adriano Iovinelli, Mr. Krieger's lawyer, argued that his client's right to grow marijuana is guaranteed under a section of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that provides for liberty and security. Mr. Krieger said he needed to grow his own pot, which alleviates his symptoms, because he did not wish to deal with criminals.The judge agreed, but denied an application that would have allowed Mr. Krieger to distribute his marijuana to other sick people.He was charged in August, 1999, with possession and trafficking after police seized about 30 marijuana plants at Mr. Krieger's home.Mr. Krieger said he was intending to provide his marijuana to members of the Universal Compassion Club, which he founded to ensure sick people have a reliable source of marijuana from a reputable supplier. Mr. Krieger has elected trial by jury on the trafficking charge; a trial date will be set on Jan. 10.Two Ontario courts have made rulings similar to yesterday's decision by Judge Acton."It's another message to the Government of Canada that they have to address this issue more thoroughly," said Mr. Iovinelli. It [the government's policy] more or less says 'We'll give exemptions to individuals but we're not going to supply them with marijuana.' What good, then, is an exemption?"Mr. Krieger, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 20 years ago, called yesterday's decision a victory. "It means that I can grow my own medicine and the police can't harass me any more. I need it to walk."He said he was disappointed that the judge did not allow him the right to distribute pot to other sick people. "I guess they have to go down to the train station by the public library."The 46-year-old Calgary pot crusader, has been using marijuana medicinally for about five years. He has made more than 30 court appearances in his ongoing campaign to reform marijuana laws.Mr. Krieger was arrested in Amsterdam in 1996 while boarding a flight for Canada with one kilogram of pot. Dutch authorities refused to charge him.In 1998, he was given a $550 fine after he lit up a marijuana cigarette on the steps of a Calgary courthouse.Mr. Krieger was also given an 18-month suspended sentence this year for a marijuana trafficking conviction in Regina. He pleaded guilty to deliberately defying probation orders resulting from that sentence and was fined $825. Source: National Post (Canada)Author: Robert RemingtonPublished: December 12, 2000Copyright: 2000 Southam Inc.Contact: letters nationalpost.comWebsite: http://www.nationalpost.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Marijuana Party of Canadahttp://www.marijuanaparty.orgWho Is Grant Kreigerhttp://home.beseen.com/healthcare/grantkrieger/Cannabis Link Directoryhttp://www.drugsense.org/tcl/links.htmlJudge Suspends Pot Cultivation Lawhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7974.shtmlMedicinal Marijuana Ruling Expected Today http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7967.shtml
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Comment #2 posted by Helen on July 31, 2001 at 10:14:44 PT:
Hemp
In the past several months, I have searched for some relief from the pain of both migraines and cronic phlebitis. Upon suggestion from a friend, I began research on medicinal hemp. I am quite confused as to what the hullalbaloo is all about. Why is the government bucking the wants and needs of the american people. In all of my research, I have been unable to find the reasoning behind marijuana prohibition. I would like to grow my own medicine....I am afraid of buying from an illegal source. Hemp as an industry could actually help our country...we could stop deforrestation, replenish the soil nearly ruined by cotton, change our dependence on fossil fuel, and stop creating criminals out of otherwise law abiding citizens.
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Comment #1 posted by RU55BK on July 02, 2001 at 05:59:51 PT
legalization
I am doing a correspondence course, and have a 'reseach by interview' assignment to complete. After a recent visit to Amsterdam, I've fomulated some questions to assertain whether it would be possible to achieve in the U.K. what they have in Holland. Could you please reply if you can assist me, thanks.
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