The Jailing of MS Patient
Krieger Pending Trial Is A Test Of Canadas Conscience.
Between Rock and A Hard Place
August 31, 1999
From The Calgary Sun
callet@sunpub.com
http://www.canoe.ca/CalgarySun/
http://www.canoe.ca/Chat/home.html
By
Kevin Martin
(Marijuananews note: As I hope readers of this site will have
noticed, I have a great fondness for my maternal grandfathers country, and I have
always enjoyed visiting Canada.
Since I began doing Marijuananews, I have also been struck by the difference in the
media coverage of the cannabis issues. This reflects -- and is reflected in -- significant
differences in national policies.
This is a "local" Alberta story that is getting friendly coverage from the
prohibitionist Calgary Sun, but I cannot imagine that it will be long before the Toronto,
Ottawa and Canadian national papers pick up the story.
See
"Why not simply
redefine legalization as a "nation-wide experiment designed to measure the long-term
effect of the non-medical use of the drug?" -- Suggests Canadas National Paper
and
Tale of Two Capital
City Newspapers:
The Washington Post and The Ottawa Citizen On Medical Marijuana
-- Maybe We Should Apologize To King George.
Grant Krieger is a person who knows that he is right and he is standing up for his
rights.
See
Calgary MS
Patient Krieger To Defy Probation And Set Up Compassion Club;
Forcing The Issue: "I was nothing more than a political prisoner" -- 2 Stories
Now Canada faces a true test of its national conscience. Will the people of Canada
acquiesce to the persecution of a seriously ill person simply to continue the charade of
"researching" medical marijuana?
See
Health Canada To
Spend Five Years and Millions
Playing the Research Game Trying Avoid Medical Marijuana
and
"Rock keeps
talking about doing trials, but trials have already been done. There is already sufficient
proof that cannabis helps people deal with their pain." -- Ontario Arthritic Facing
Marijuana Charge.
"My death will be slow and painful. Now, I have this criminal charge against me,
and my children are about to lose their daddy over it."
Is Alan Rock prepared to have blood on his hands, like his murderous DEAland counterparts
who are quite willing to lie and even kill the sick and dying in order to have a few
moments on the stage?
See
Never Mind What HHS
Says Now About Medical Marijuana, Here Is What The DEA Says.
Rock knows better. Besides, the people of Canada will not let him get away with
it
Or will they?
See
Canadian House
Of Commons Votes 204 to 29 To Urge The Health Ministry
To "Take Steps" Toward Legalizing Marijuana For Medical Use.
Bloc Quebecois Seeks to Keep Pressure On Health Minister.
My money is on the people of Canada. Oh Canada!)
MARIJUANA CRUSADER TO GET JURY TRIAL
Gaunt, frail, but unapologetic, a wheelchair-bound Grant Krieger got his wish yesterday
-- a trial before a jury of his peers.
But Krieger may have to spend months behind bars before he gets
to try to convince 12 fellow-Calgarians that he should be allowed to grow and distribute
pot for medicinal reasons.
See
Health Canada To
Spend Five Years and Millions
Playing the Research Game Trying Avoid Medical Marijuana
The medical marijuana crusader app-eared briefly in provincial court, where lawyer Adriano
Iovinelli elected a judge and jury trial on his behalf.
Wearing standard Calgary Remand Centre blue overalls, Krieger, 45, made no comment
after rolling himself into court in a wheelchair.
But outside court his lawyer spoke volumes, saying his client's health is rapidly
deteriorating because he can't get the pot which alleviates his multiple sclerosis pain.
"He needs the marijuana to live," said Iovinelli, whose
client has been denied bail because he refuses to promise not to distribute the the drug
to other sick individuals.
"He used to be in a wheelchair prior to using marijuana."
When Krieger appeared in court last Friday, he was able to stand.
Marie Krieger said pot has been a lifesaver for her husband. "It makes him able to
walk like the rest of us, my God, isn't he entitled to that?" she said.
Following his court appearance, Krieger told the Sun he isn't
confident he can strike an agreement with the Crown to gain his release on bail. "The
Crown wants me to say I will not cultivate, but I'm not sure because I need to possess
(it)," he said by telephone from the remand centre.
Krieger will have a Court of Queen's Bench jury trial date set Oct. 13
Copyright: 1999, Canoe Limited Partnership.