KRIEGER TAKING CANNABIS CRUSADE TO SUPREME COURT

Calgary pot crusader Grant Krieger, challenging his conviction for
possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, is taking the case
to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Krieger, 50, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and uses cannabis butter to
ease the pain, lost a 2-1 split decision Monday in the Alberta Court of
Appeal. He had been convicted in December 2003 for possessing 29 pot plants.

Justices Jean Cote and Ellen Picard upheld the conviction because they felt
even though Queen's Bench Justice Paul Chrumka erred in ordering the jury to
convict, they agreed with Crown prosecutor Jolaine Antonio that a new trial
on that evidence would result in the same verdict.

Chief Justice Catherine Fraser dissented, however, agreeing with defence
lawyer John Hooker. Fraser said she would have ordered a new trial because
it was not a curable error.

"The judge (Chrumka) had ordered the jury to find me guilty, with no other
options," Krieger said outside court. "Justice Chrumka made a mistake and it
was acknowledged by Justice Fraser.

Krieger, who runs a "compassion club" and provides pot to others who use it
for medicinal reasons, has always admitted the plants found in his Calgary
house in 1999 were his own.

But Krieger, who has attained a degree of notoriety for fighting the
country's drug laws, thinks the law is wrong.

Krieger said he will meet with his lawyer on Monday to discuss having Legal
Aid finance his trip to Ottawa.