STUDENT DEFENDS CANNABIS PROTEST

A Wawoto, Sask., 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 15-year-old's
family.

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

King 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.