UP IN SMOKE

POT PLEA IGNORED

Grant Krieger vows to keep selling marijuana as medicine despite his
conviction yesterday of possessing pot for the purpose of trafficking.

Krieger was charged a year ago after stating publicly he intended to sell
15 grams of marijuana to a chronically ill friend.

"Why are they denying the Canadian people the right to nurse themselves
back to health?" said Krieger, 43, who will be sentenced Aug. 17.

"This is alternative medicine. It's safer than any pharmaceutical drug I've
taken."

Judge Robert Davie said personal use of marijuana for medical reasons may
be allowed under the Constitution, but distributing it to others isn't.

The dissemination of drugs is restricted to doctors and pharmacists for the
protection of society, ruled Davie, adding there should be no exceptions
based solely on beliefs.

But Krieger -- who vows to take his case to the Supreme Court, if necessary
- -- questioned how Canadians can legally get marijuana for medical purposes
unless they grow it. "We have to get ripped off on the street by uncouth
people," said the Saskatchewan man, who credits the drug with easing his
multiple sclerosis.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski