POT PARTY LEADER MISSES DEADLINE

Marijuana activist Ken Kirk was going to battle a pot-growing criminal
charge on religious grounds yesterday in court, but he had "bigger fish to
fry."

Kirk had planned to run for mayor in the upcoming civic election and
yesterday was the deadline for filing a nomination. So he pleaded guilty
and was fined $3,000.

Unfortunately, the 39-year-old leader of the Marijuana Party of Alberta
spent too much time gabbing with reporters after court and missed the noon
nomination deadline.

"Shit happens," said Kirk later, adding he is considering appealing the
decision by City Hall to not accept his nomination.

Kirk also said he was going to ignore his conviction and fine, saying it
was not binding because he had not signed the judge's order. As well, Kirk
charged his guilty plea was given "under threat of duress and intimidation"
and said he is planning to have the judge charged with treason.

The bizarre statements stem from an hour of outrageous antics yesterday in
court which resulted in a judge becoming angry and a so-called "minister"
being ejected by police.

It began when Kirk tried to fire his lawyer so he could be represented by
Edward Belanger, his "minister."

Belanger then questioned Court of Queen's Bench Justice Scott Brooker as to
his jurisdiction and demanded he swear allegiance to the Queen and admit
God is supreme before the law.

When Belanger refused to shut up, Brooker had him ejected from the courtroom.

A cop escorted him out and then court security kicked him out of the building.

Inside the courtroom, Kirk continued to question Brooker's jurisdiction
and, at one point, called on court constables to arrest the judge for treason

The judge initially laughed, but then became upset and threatened to lock
Kirk up in the back cells. After a brief adjournment, the case proceeded.

Kirk pleaded guilty to marijuana cultivation and was fined $3,000. Court
heard the charge stemmed from a Jan. 20, 1998, police raid on Kirk's home,
where cops found an ounce of marijuana and 12 growing pot plants.

Meanwhile, Amy Von Stackelberg, who is Kirk's former girlfriend and was
also charged after the raid, pleaded guilty to marijuana possession and was
fined $2,000.