TRIAL TO TEST CRUSADER'S RIGHT TO GROW POT FOR THE SICK,
DYING

CALGARY -- A Calgary man who has spent years arguing that Canada's
drug laws are unconstitutional launched his latest challenge
yesterday, claiming he has a right to grow and distribute pot to the
sick or dying, to ease their pain.

Grant Krieger, 46, was charged with possessing marijuana for the
purpose of trafficking in connection with a raid on his house in 1999
during which 29 cannabis plants were seized.

He has since maintained that he was growing the plants in order to
distribute them to members of his Universal Compassion Club, people
who suffer from HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, cancer and other conditions,
but have no legal source for medicinal marijuana.

Yesterday, an 11-man, one-woman jury at the Alberta Court of Queen's
Bench heard testimony from members of Calgary's Police Service about
the marijuana-growing operation discovered in Mr. Krieger's house and
his demeanour after being arrested.

"He seemed somewhat satisfied that he was being arrested so he could
take this matter to the courts," Constable Christian Vermette told the
court during the first of what is expected to be a three-day trial.

Mr. Krieger's lawyer, Adriano Iovinelli, said that although the
challenges to the country's possession laws have been mounted before,
an attempt to strike down a drug-trafficking law has not.

"With Grant Krieger we always seem to be pushing the envelope a little
step further," he told reporters outside the court.

Last December, the same court ruled that Mr. Krieger has a
constitutional right to posses the drug for medicinal purposes. Mr.
Krieger suffers from multiple sclerosis. Two Ontario court rulings
have also come to the same conclusion.

But in making her ruling, Madam Justice Darlene Acton of the Alberta
court wouldn't throw out the trafficking charge against Mr. Krieger,
yet called it an "absurdity" that there is no legal source for
cannabis for those who require it.

Recently, the federal government introduced measures that would allow
third parties to be licensed to grow medical marijuana for those who
can't grow it for themselves.

Ottawa has also contracted a Saskatoon-based company to produce
marijuana for medical purposes, but expects it could take about a year
before the first delivery of the drug.

But even with these changes to Canada's drug laws, a steady and legal
supply could be up to five years down the road, Mr. Iovinelli said.

Mr. Krieger said it will be "back to the drawing board" if the charge
sticks. "Laws must change concerning the use of the cannabis plant and
people who are ill," he told reporters.