MEDICAL POT LAWS 'IMPOSSIBLE', COURT TOLD

CALGARY -- The government provides a legal method for a person to
grow and possess marijuana for personal medical reasons, but makes it
"almost impossible" to do so, a lawyer argued on Wednesday.

John Hooker, counsel for longtime Calgary pot crusader Grant Krieger,
told provincial court Judge William Pepler that it is similar to the
abortion issue, in which the government permits women to legally have
abortions, then puts so many hurdles in place.

"Very few doctors will sign certificates for persons to be allowed to
possess and use marijuana," said Hooker. "So it is unfair to convict
people in such a case as this."

Krieger, 52, is bidding to have the judge stay two counts of
trafficking in marijuana. The charges stem from packages destined for
ill fellow users in Manitoba but intercepted by courier companies on
Dec. 23, 2003, and Jan. 8, 2004.

Krieger freely admitted he is supplying more than 400 people in at
least three provinces, all of whom cannot get doctor-backed
exemptions and have no legal source of the drug.

Crown prosecutor Scott Couper says having physicians participate in
the application process is appropriate, given that marijuana is
largely an unproven drug in medical use and is controlled.

Both lawyers will submit detailed written arguments to the judge well
in advance of oral arguments on Sept. 25.