Judge In Krieger Case Delays
Sentencing To Get More Information On Medical Marijuana
(Ed. note: This can only work to our benefit. In
the meantime there will almost certainly be a verdict in the Wakeford case.) From
the Lethbridge Herald
lherald@lis.ab.ca
http://www.lis.ab.ca/lherald/
August 22, 1998
JUDGE HOLDS OFF
Calgary, Alberta
An Alberta judge has again delalyed sentencing a Saskatchewan man
convicted of trafficking marijuana, saying he wants more information on the medical use of
the drug.
See
Canadian
Court Delays Trial Of MS Patient Harichy
Until Province’s Top Court Has Ruled On Medical Defense Issue.
Grant Kreiger, who has multiple sclerosis, wants marijuana legalized because he says it
moderates some of his symptoms.
See
MS Patient
Krieger Found Guilty Of Intent to Sell Medical Marijuana; Vows To Appeal to Canadian
Supreme Court
Krieger, 44, was arrested over a year ago for sparking up a joint in a protest outside
a Calgary courthouse over the issue.
The former salesman from Preeceville, Sask., also admitted giving another man
marijuana, which brought about the trafficking charge.
Krieger’s lawyer, Adriano Iovinelli, said Friday that
provincial court Judge Robert Davie wanted to hear more expert testimony on the case- one
of several now smoldering in the courts across Canada.
See
Is The Wakeford
Case A Way For Canadian Politicians To Duck DEAland Pressure On Medical Marijuana?
"The court needs some more information and more time before deciding this,"
said Iovinelli. "The court was very clear that this case has national, if not
international, significance."
Krieger claims marijuana has radically improved his quality of life since he began
smoking it in 1994.
Before puffing pot, he attempted suicide because he was largely
crippled by MS, he said. He now walks without canes, jogs and enjoys many other activities
once denied to him.
See
Medical
Marijuana Got Man Out Of Wheelchair; "Meanwhile, the MS Society of Canada keeps a
cautious distance..."
Krieger wants to see a safe supply of marijuana distributed by the federal government
to those who need it for medical purposes.
Despite Krieger’s claims, the National Institute of Health
in the United States says there is only limited anecdotal evidence that marijuana helps
relieve spasticity produced by MS.
Crown prosecutor Stefne Torske has asked for a "short,
sharp" sentence of between 14 and 30 days for Krieger, a first-time offender.
Krieger will be back in court on Oct. 19, at which time Iovinelli
said more information about the medical uses for marijuana will be presented.
"If it’s a light sentence, it could propel the cause or a harsher sentence
could stomp it out," said Iovinelli.
"It’s obvious the federal Department of Justice has some big concerns about
the case."
An Ontario man, Terry Parker, was granted a constitutional exemption last year allowing
him to smoke marijuana tohelp control his epileptic seizures.
See
The Lancet reports on the
Terry Parker case."Canadian Judge Allows Marijuana as Therapy"
That ruling is now being appealed. Jim Wakeford, an Ontario man who has AIDS, is
seeking a similar exemption.
See
Canadian Health
Minister Owes Medical Marijuana Activist Wakeford "An Apology
And Canadians An Explanation"
"I’m in this for the long term; I’m hoping for the best," said
Krieger, who has pledged to continue smoking pot no matter what the court rules.
"This issue has become bigger than me and that’s what I intended."
Federal Justice Minister Anne McLellan has said the issue merits a close look.
Supported