HIGHER PRIORITY SOUGHT FOR MEDICAL USE

Grant Krieger is standing outside in yesterday's glorious sunshine awaiting
the inevitable media horde to interview him.

And it may not look like it to a casual observer, but that simple act of
standing is nothing short of a miracle.

Before Grant, 48, was introduced to marijuana in 1994, he spent all day
every day sitting in his wheelchair trapped inside his frail body unable to
stand at all.

"Without marijuana, I'd be in a wheelchair today, living with excruciating
pain or lying immovable in a bed in a nursing home or I'd be dead," says
Calgary's best known cannabis crusader, who suffers from multiple
sclerosis, a chronic, debilitating and painful disease of the central
nervous system that eventually leads to paralysis.

Yesterday, the feds finally -- after decades of discussion and debate --
overrode objections from the U.S. and police groups and introduced
legislation to end criminal penalties for the possession of small amounts
of marijuana.

Krieger says he has mixed feelings about the proposed legislation, which
would levy fines for possession of under 15 grams of marijuana instead of
criminal charges.

"I think the Government of Canada should have made issues surrounding
medicinal marijuana a higher priority than decriminalizing simple
possession for recreational users," says Krieger.

"But at least this way, people -- including sick people who don't yet have
the right to use marijuana legally -- won't get a criminal record for
possession anymore, so that's better than the current situation."

Krieger laughs at the irony that had he not been helped by marijuana as a
result of his illness, he might be one of the people currently criticizing
the draft legislation rather than lauding it and pushing for further
concessions -- particularly the legalization of marijuana for medicinal use.

"At one point, I thought marijuana was a terrible thing and something used
only by low-lifes," says Grant, with a chuckle.

But in December 1994, that all turned around.

That's when the father of three swallowed the bottles of powerful
painkilling medications his doctors legally prescribed to him and attempted
suicide.

"I couldn't walk, I was trapped in my body. My spasms were excruciatingly
painful. It was like getting full-body charley horses every couple of
minutes," he recalls.

Upon release from hospital, another ill friend insisted Grant try marijuana
and Grant says he was almost immediately amazed by the relief it gave him.

Within weeks, he was able to walk again, he could see better, his hands
stopped shaking and the pain lessened considerably.

Krieger, who has spent more than seven years battling in the courts to gain
legal access for himself and others to use his medicine, has won several
landmark court decisions, including one that gives Krieger the right to
grow marijuana.

Krieger says he's looking forward to the day when instead he will be able
to go to his doctor and get a prescription to obtain his "medicine."

As it stands now, he frequently gets his grow operations busted by police,
despite his court exemptions, and is always on the verge of arrest and
bankruptcy as a result of the busts.

At long last, the laws in this country will begin to reflect a reality that
already exists -- that is that most Canadians don't want precious police
and court resources squandered on those partaking in an activity that is
less harmful than alcohol use.

For those who fear this law, relax. There are provisions to still
criminally charge a person who uses the 15 grams to traffic -- particularly
to youth.

Grant has some criticisms to be sure, but he's pretty pleased.

"It's so great I could stand here all day," he says.

He is talking about the weather, but what's really great is that he's
standing at all.

As for the federal government, it's good to see it finally standing its
ground for something controversial as well.