PRO-POT STAND GETS STUDENT SUSPENDED

Teen Charges School Denying Free Speech

WAWOTA, Sask.

A high school student claims his right to free speech is going up in
smoke after he was suspended for taking part in a pro-marijuana protest.

Kieran King's troubles at Wawota Parkland School began after the
principal accused the Grade 10 student of being involved in the
"promotion of marijuana use."

Wawota is about 240 kilometres east of Regina.

The school division says principal Susan Wilson received a complaint
about King from another student, and then phoned the teen's family.

"In my opinion, cannabis is safer than they say. It is not worse than
alcohol or tobacco," said King.

King, 15, said he was threatened with police action, something the
school division denies.

"I've never smoked marijuana. I've never even seen it," he
said.

To protest his treatment, King organized a walkout for Tuesday
morning.

But officials locked down the school, with teachers reportedly
threatening punishment if anyone left.

"The main purpose wasn't cannabis. It was the defence of the freedom
of speech," said King, who was suspended for three days for violating
the lockdown.

The suspension will prevent King from writing his final exams before
he goes to China on an exchange course.

The honours student said missing his final exams will cost him 30 per
cent of his marks.

The school division denies anyone was trying to keep the teen
quiet.

"I don't think anybody would advocate ... a 15-year-old, or even an
18-year-old, using drugs or alcohol," said Don Rempel, director of
education with the division.

"Clearly, that's not legal."