Copyright: 2009 The Edmonton Journal
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/letters.html
Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Mike McIntyre, Canwest News Service

CALGARY MARIJUANA CRUSADER ESCAPES JAIL TIME FOR TRAFFICKING

A Manitoba judge has cut a major break to a medical marijuana
crusader found guilty of trafficking pot across Canada.

Grant Krieger received a suspended sentence with nine months of
probation Monday -- a far cry from the jail sentence he feared he
might receive and predicted would kill him.

"Mr. Krieger is not like most of the drug offenders we sentence in
this court," said Queen's Bench Justice Shawn Greenberg. "While Mr.
Krieger's actions were illegal, many, perhaps most, would say they
are not immoral. Indeed he has no real victims."

Krieger, 54, was convicted last year of possession for the purpose of
trafficking following a high-profile trial that made headlines across
Canada. The Calgary resident has been battling progressive multiple
sclerosis since 1978 and said his only relief comes from smoking and
ingesting cannabis.

Krieger said his many customers are in a similar position -- they are
suffering from chronic pain, disease and even terminal illness and
have come to him looking to improve their quality of life. He admits
selling pot to dozens of people across Canada, but insisted there is
a major difference between him and the garden-variety drug dealer.

He sought to be acquitted on sympathetic grounds, but jurors took
only about 30 minutes to reach their unanimous guilty verdict.

Krieger testified in his own defence about how his life was in a
rapid downward spiral and even included a suicide attempt prior to
discovering the magic of marijuana: "Without it, I wouldn't be
standing here before you today. I'd be in a wheelchair or dead right now."

Greenberg agreed in her sentencing decision.

"Mr. Krieger provided people with marijuana only where he was
satisfied they suffered from a serious illness such as cancer. For
example, he once turned down a person who sought his assistance for a
broken arm," the judge said Monday. "While he might be considered
reckless by effectively 'playing doctor,' there is no evidence that
he caused anyone any harm."

The Crown argued Krieger had clearance to possess pot for his own
health reasons, but didn't have permission from Ottawa to sell
marijuana for medicinal reasons.