POT DECISION CHEERED BY CALGARY MAN

An Ontario court ruling calling Canada's marijuana possession laws
unconstitutional is being lauded by a Calgary crusader for the leafy drug.

Grant Krieger, 46, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and is an advocate
of smoking pot to alleviate pain, said the court made the right ruling.

"I think it's an excellent decision," said Krieger.

The Ontario Court of Appeal ruled yesterday that Canadian law fails to
recognize pot can be used for medicinal purposes by those suffering from
chronic illnesses.

The court said if Ottawa does not change the law within 12 months there
will no longer be any law prohibiting marijuana possession in Ontario.

The ruling upheld a lower court decision that allowed for an epileptic
Toronto man's use of marijuana.

Krieger says it will help him in his bid to legalize pot.

"This will definitely help my fight," he said, adding he's been to court 28
times for various marijuana infractions.

In October, he'll be in court again, but this time Krieger says he'll be
before the federal Supreme Court, where he also plans to challenge the
Charter of Rights and Freedoms as unconstitutional when it comes to
possessing dope for medical purposes.

Possession of marijuana in Canada is still illegal, and the law remains in
full force and effect.

But Health Minister Allan Rock can allow certain people to smoke pot for
medicinal purposes under provisions in the Canada Health Act.