JURY ACQUITS MEDICAL POT GROWER

First Time I Ever Told A Jury My Client Did It, Says Victorious Defence
Attorney

Medical marijuana crusader Grant Krieger was justified in breaking the law
and selling pot to chronically ill people, a jury ruled late Wednesday.

The one-man, 11-woman panel accepted defence lawyer Adriano Iovinelli's
argument his client was saving lives when he supplied marijuana to the sick.

"It's fantastic, I feel great," Krieger said moments after the verdict was
read. "I'm ready to start providing medicine for people who are ill. This
is a major step forward."

Krieger, 46, who has multiple sclerosis and has been fighting for more than
five years to have the drug legalized for medical purposes, had been
charged with one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Iovinelli said outside court the verdict reflected public opinion on the
current state of Canada's laws on using marijuana for medicinal reasons.

"It's a message to the government that we've got to change the laws."

During final arguments Iovinelli said his client was in possession of the
drug for the purpose of trafficking, but broke the law out of necessity.

"This is the first time I've ever said to a jury 'my client did it,' "
Iovinelli told jurors. "Mr. Krieger believes what he is doing is not wrong,
what he believes is he is supplying individuals with medicare they can't
get anywhere else."

Krieger readily admitted growing 29 pot plants in his home in August 1999.
He said the crop was designed to help the chronically ill -- who came to
his Universal Compassion Club -- ease their pain and suffering.

Crown prosecutor Scott Couper argued despite Krieger's motivation, he
didn't meet the legal test of necessity.

"Ask yourselves whether Mr. Krieger's belief of imminent and pressing peril
compelled him to set up this grow operation."

But Iovinelli argued Krieger knows first-hand to what depths individuals
might go to ease their suffering.

"You can shut your door, you don't have to have humanity, you don't have to
help anyone else.... Mr. Krieger made it his problem because this is who
(he) is."

Const. Christian Vermette had testified he arrested Krieger when he spotted
two pot plants on a table in the backyard of the home while he was there on
unrelated business.

In April, Ottawa announced people suffering from severe forms of arthritis
will be given the right to possess and smoke marijuana legally if they can
prove they can't be treated with other drugs to alleviate relentless pain.

The regulations also allow terminal patients, people with AIDS, multiple
sclerosis, spinal-cord injuries, epilepsy and other serious conditions to
use the drug if it eases their symptoms.