SENIOR SAYS POT MEDICINAL

PORT HARDY - A 69-year-old man who claims he grew 36 pot plants for
his own use was sentenced to six months of probation.

Acting on a tip, police obtained a search warrant for the house of
Jacob Philip Knaflic, which they executed more than a year ago,
federal Crown counsel Paul Grier told court Sept. 4.

"As RCMP approached the residence, they smelled growing marijuana,"
said Grier. "When they knocked, Knaflic opened the door. He was very
cooperative, he even showed them where the marijuana was."

Police found 36 growing marijuana plants plus more than 300 grams of
marijuana drying and charged him with production of a controlled substance.

Because they also found a .30-.30 rifle, which Knaflic claimed to be
storing for a friend, they also charged him with unauthorized
possession of a firearm.

"This was a very small operation," said Grier, adding that Knaflic
does have a criminal record that's dated.

Defence lawyer Dan Nowosad said Knaflic has "health problems related
to his age and has been treating himself with marijuana."

Knaflic is now going through channels and applying for permission to
use marijauna for medicinal purposes.

"He has his doctor's support and has applied, but that is pending,"
said Nowosad. "Hopefully he'll get his clearance in a couple months."

Judge Jeff Gould said drug cases usually require strict punishment to
denunciate crime and deter others, but this was an unusual case.
"Yours is a bit different case, counsel has explained that," he noted.