T
The420Guy
Guest
Calgary - The Crown is appealing a controversial ruling that allows
people to grow marijuana for medicinal purposes.
In December, Court of Queen's Bench Justice Darlene Acton stayed
cultivation charges against Grant Krieger, who has multiple sclerosis
and uses cannabis to treat his symptoms.
Judge Acton said it was "absurd" the federal government grants medical
exemptions to its possession laws, but provides no way to get the drug.
"There is no legal source for cannabis," she noted. "The exemption
triggers the absurdity that to obtain a product one has to take part in
an illegal act."
Judge Acton gave Parliament 12 months to change the drug legislation so
that sick patients can get medicinal cannabis.
However, Mr. Krieger still faces a charge of possession for the purpose
of trafficking. The trial by judge and jury is set for June 18.
The charge was laid in August 1999 after police allegedly found a small
hydroponic growing operation at Mr. Krieger's home and seized 29
plants. Later this month, Mr. Krieger starts serving 22 days in jail
for failure to pay previous fines received for breaching probation.
"I am still going to take a quarter-pound of marijuana with me to jail
and if they decide to seize it, I will sue them ... I'm not going to
jail in a wheelchair."
He said he hasn't been able to walk in the past when forced to refrain
from taking marijuana to ease his pain.
Mr. Krieger said he can't have his marijuana delivered to his jail cell
on a daily basis because that would make the courier guilty of a
criminal offence. "If I ask my sons to bring me my pot they're going to
get nailed for trafficking - I can't have that," he said. "The laws are
a mess."
Newshawk: creator@islandnet.com
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Pubdate: Thu, 11 Jan 2001
people to grow marijuana for medicinal purposes.
In December, Court of Queen's Bench Justice Darlene Acton stayed
cultivation charges against Grant Krieger, who has multiple sclerosis
and uses cannabis to treat his symptoms.
Judge Acton said it was "absurd" the federal government grants medical
exemptions to its possession laws, but provides no way to get the drug.
"There is no legal source for cannabis," she noted. "The exemption
triggers the absurdity that to obtain a product one has to take part in
an illegal act."
Judge Acton gave Parliament 12 months to change the drug legislation so
that sick patients can get medicinal cannabis.
However, Mr. Krieger still faces a charge of possession for the purpose
of trafficking. The trial by judge and jury is set for June 18.
The charge was laid in August 1999 after police allegedly found a small
hydroponic growing operation at Mr. Krieger's home and seized 29
plants. Later this month, Mr. Krieger starts serving 22 days in jail
for failure to pay previous fines received for breaching probation.
"I am still going to take a quarter-pound of marijuana with me to jail
and if they decide to seize it, I will sue them ... I'm not going to
jail in a wheelchair."
He said he hasn't been able to walk in the past when forced to refrain
from taking marijuana to ease his pain.
Mr. Krieger said he can't have his marijuana delivered to his jail cell
on a daily basis because that would make the courier guilty of a
criminal offence. "If I ask my sons to bring me my pot they're going to
get nailed for trafficking - I can't have that," he said. "The laws are
a mess."
Newshawk: creator@islandnet.com
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Pubdate: Thu, 11 Jan 2001