JUDGE HOLDS OFF

Calgary - An Alberta judge has again delalyed sentencing a Saskatchewan man
convicted of trafficking marijuana, saying he wants more information on the
medical use of the drug.

Grant Kreiger, who has multiple sclerosis, wants marijuana legalized
because he says it moderates some of his symptoms.

Krieger, 44, was arrested over a year ago for sparking up a joint in a
protest outside a Calgary courthouse over the issue.

The former salesman from Preeceville, Sask., also admitted giving another
man marijuana, which brought about the trafficking charge.

Krieger's lawyer, Adriano Iovinelli, said Friday that provincial court
Judge Robert Davie wanted to hear more expert testimony on the case- one of
several now smoldering in the courts across Canada.

"The court needs some more information and more time before deciding this,"
said Iovinelli. "The court was very clear that this case has national, if
not international, significance."

Krieger claims marijuana has radically improved his quality of life since
he began smoking it in 1994.

Before puffing pot, he attempted suicide because he was largely crippled by
MS, he said. He now walks without canes, jogs and enjoys many other
activities once denied to him.

Krieger wants to see a safe supply of marijuana distributed by the federal
government to those who need it for medical purposes.

Despite Krieger's claims, the National Institute of Health in the United
States says there is only lilmited anecdotal evidence that marijuana helps
relieve spasticity produced by MS.

Crown prosecutor Stefne Torske has asked for a "short, sharp" sentence of
between 14 and 30 days for Krieger, a first-time offender.

Krieger will be back in court on Oct. 19, at which time Iovinelli said more
information about the medical uses for marijuana will be presented.

"If it's a light sentence, it could propel the cause or a harsher sentence
could stomp it out," said Iovinelli.

"It's obvious the federal Department of Justice has some big concerns about
the case."

An Ontario man, Terry Parker, was granted a constitutional exemption last
year allowing him to smoke marijuana tohelp control his epileptic seizures.

That ruling is now being appealed. Jim Wakeford, an Ontario man who has
AIDS, is seeking a similar exemption.

"I'm in this for the long term; I'm hoping for the best," said Krieger, who
has pledged to continue smoking pot no matter what the court rules.

"This issue has become bigger than me and that's what I intended." Federal
Justice Minister Anne McLellan has said the issue merits a close look.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski