GUILTY PLEA WON'T STOP HEMP ACTIVIST

Although he pleaded guilty Monday to possession of marijuana, Woodstock
resident Gary Christ has not given up the fight to change the laws on
growing hemp and using marijuana for medicinal purposes.

"Sometimes it's wise to retreat from a battle you can't win," the
41-year-old Christ said after being sentenced to one year of conditional
discharge.

Just as he was set to go to trial on felony charges of growing and
possessing marijuana, Christ said, he was told that information about legal
uses of hemp and medicinal uses of marijuana would not be allowed as
evidence.

"I felt if I could bring it all forward, a jury would vote their
conscience," Christ added.

Instead, Christ pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of marijuana
possession and was ordered by McHenry County Circuit Judge Thomas A.
Schermerhorn to perform 40 hours of public service, and donate $500 to the
state's juvenile drug abuse fund and $100 to Woodstock CrimeStoppers.

Christ was arrested in April 1997 by agents of the North Central Narcotics
Task Force on suspicion of possessing marijuana and growing it at his home
in the 5300 block of Briarwood Road.

According to McHenry County Assistant State's Atty. Philip Prossnitz, 50
marijuana plants were seized from Christ's home

"Given that fact, and his absence of a prior record at age 41, this is a
fair disposition," Prossnitz said.

Over the past several months, Christ became a familiar figure outside the
county courthouse as he passed out fliers promoting legalization of hemp and
its uses for clothing, paper, oils and other products.

On Monday, he carried into the courtroom with him a cap made out of hemp.

"I thank God I'm out of jail and I can still fight for a decent cause from a
better vantage point than if I were behind bars as a felon," Christ said.

Checked-by: Don Beck