KRIEGER CASE NOT ABOUT WAR ON DRUGS

Re `Marijuana crusader elects trial by jury' Calgary Herald, Aug.
31.

Does anyone else see the lunacy behind putting a sick man behind bars
for growing and smoking a substance that offers him personal relief
from the symptoms of multiple sclerosis? Why would a compassionate,
freedom -loving society do this? This man is a human being struggling
to cope with an illness that was thrust upon him through no fault of
his own. God forbidthat I ever have to walk a mile in his shoes -
never mind the countless miles he's walked just to have the freedom to
choose his own form of medication; one that works for him where other
medications have failed to offer any improvement to his quality of
life.

Aren't we all, as Canadians, entitled to the best quality of life we
can provide for ourselves? What is this man doing that is so wrong he
must be put in jail? Since when is wanting to enjoy the same freedoms
- - mobility, speech, relief from chronic pain - that we all take for
granted, a crime?

Maybe it's time for the laws regarding marijuana to be re-evaluated
and modernized. This is not a case of `drugs are good versus drugs are
bad.' This is a case of having options and choices when dealing with a
medical situation. If marijuana is what helps Grant Krieger, then
there should not even be a question as to whether or not he can grow
and smoke it.

Good luck in court, Grant. I hope you are able to educate people, and
that a jury of your peers find you not to be a `renegade, drug-dealing
freak,' but a man who is simply trying to cope with what life has
dished out for him.

FIONA DOHERTY
Lethbridge
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Grant Krieger is one of the bravest people I have ever had the honour
to speak to. As a fellow multiple sclerosis victim and medical
marijuana user, I fear very much that his health is in danger.

How can we allow our lawmakers to continue these kinds of actions on
disabled people? Grant will be further damaged by his illness if he
is made to go without this herb.

This disease will damage the nerve covers; damage that will take Grant
time to heal from. His disability will become much worse, especially
in cool, damp jail cells.

I'm not sure if I could be as strong as Grant is but I know if it came
to that I would do exactly the same thing. I truly understand why
Grant feels the way he does. I have confidence that our citizens are
more aware of this issue then our government wants to believe.

Hopefully our government will do something soon, and stop letting
sick, disabled people suffer in this war on a plant that has never
killed anyone.

LYNN HARICHY
London, Ontario
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You would think the Calgary police have better things to
do.

I've always thought that if the drug war gets too fierce here in the
United States, I could live in Canada. Now I hear that you, too, are
arresting diseased people for daring to use marijuana as treatment.
Why has it come this far? Are there no people in the law enforcement
community with the common sense and compassion to recognize broken
laws?

DANNY TERWEY
Santa Cruz, California