cannabisnews.com: Calgary Jury Rules Marijuana Crusader Justified 





Calgary Jury Rules Marijuana Crusader Justified 
Posted by FoM on June 21, 2001 at 07:17:09 PT
Canadian Press
Source: Ottawa Citizen
Medical marijuana crusader Grant Krieger was justified in breaking the law and selling pot to chronically ill people, a jury ruled Wednesday night. The one-man, 11-woman panel accepted defence lawyer Adriano Iovinelli's argument his client was saving lives when he supplied marijuana to the sick. "It's fantastic, I feel great," Krieger said moments after the verdict was read. "I'm ready to start providing medicine for people who are ill. This is a major step forward." 
Krieger, 46, who has multiple sclerosis and has been fighting for more than five years to have the drug legalized for medical purposes, had been charged with one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking. Iovinelli said outside court the verdict reflected public opinion on the current state of Canada's laws on using marijuana for medicinal reasons. "It's a message to the government that we've got to change the laws," he said. During final arguments Iovinelli said his client was clearly in possession of the drug for the purpose of trafficking, but broke the law out of necessity. "This is the first time I've ever said to a jury 'my client did it,' " Iovinelli told jurors. "Mr. Krieger believes what he is doing is not wrong, what he believes is he is supplying individuals with medicare they can't get anywhere else." Krieger readily admitted growing 29 pot plans in his home in August 1999. He said the crop was designed to help the chronically ill - who came to his Universal Compassion Club - ease their pain and suffering. Crown prosecutor Scott Couper argued despite Krieger's motivation, he didn't meet the strict legal test of necessity. "Ask yourselves whether Mr. Krieger's belief of imminent and pressing peril compelled him to set up this grow operation," Couper told jurors. But Iovinelli argued Krieger knows first-hand to what depths individuals might go to ease their suffering. "At the end of the day it was necessary for Mr. Krieger to provide marijuana to his clients out of fear that they would commit suicide," the lawyer said. "You can shut your door, you don't have to have humanity, you don't have to help anyone else . . . Mr. Krieger made it his problem because this is who he is." Const. Christian Vermette had testified he arrested Krieger when he spotted two pot plants on a table in the backyard of the home while he was there on unrelated business. Vermette said Krieger immediately told him he had other marijuana plants growing inside the house. In April, the federal government announced people suffering from severe forms of arthritis will be given the right to possess and smoke marijuana legally if they can prove they can't be treated with other drugs to alleviate relentless pain. The regulations also allow terminal patients, and people with AIDS, multiple sclerosis, spinal-cord injuries, epilepsy and other serious conditions to use the drug if it eases their symptoms. The measures also allow the government to license third parties to grow marijuana for individual sufferers who can't grow it for themselves. The new rules create three categories of people who can possess the drug: those with terminal illnesses with a prognosis of death within one year, those with symptoms associated with serious medical conditions, and those suffering from symptoms with other medical conditions. For those who will be allowed to produce the drug, the rules will set maximums for the number of indoor and outdoor plants to be grown, authorize a grower to receive and possess seeds and allow for site inspections and criminal-record checks of designated growers. In December, Ottawa awarded Prairie Plant Systems Inc. of Saskatoon a contract to grow marijuana for Health Canada for research purposes. The first crop is expected to available later this year. Complete Title: Calgary Jury Rules Marijuana Crusader Justified in Breaking Law Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)Published: Thursday, June 21, 2001 Copyright: 2001 The Ottawa CitizenContact: letters thecitizen.southam.ca Website: http://www.ottawacitizen.comRelated Articles & Web Site:Prairie Plant Systemshttp://www.prairieplant.com/ Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmCanadians Lean Toward Easing Marijuana Lawshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10076.shtmlSearching For a Pot of Gold On Prairies http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9795.shtmlMarijuana Activist to be Denied Drug in Jailhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8419.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by Larry Treftlin on July 23, 2001 at 07:34:32 PT:
Exemption
Hi Folks,I Am writing to you in the hopes that someone can give me some info.I am a fifty year old father/grandfather...I have had spinalsurgery twice ontop of several other procedures. I have to take large doses of DEMEROL everyday and it is becoming less and less effective. My doctor will write me a prescription for MARIJUANA and will help me to get an exemption but we don't know where to start..(ie) where do I get the forms. Is it possible to do this without legal representation?Here is hoping someone can help.I just recently started using MARIJUANA and it has a big difference to the quality of my life. I don't have a criminal record and don't want one. I would preferr to be legal. I thank god for this weed every time I wake up,and have trouble getting out of bed,because I know,it is going to get me through the day,and allow me to function. Thank god for the Compassion Clubs. 
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Comment #2 posted by ras james rsifwh on June 21, 2001 at 11:42:38 PT
Book of Revelation 22:1&2
The law makers have passed an unholy law.They say the people can not use the Healing Herb.Today! The devil is the Almighty's Footstool.For Cannabis Sativa is the Healing of the Nations.
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Comment #1 posted by observer on June 21, 2001 at 09:21:05 PT
Juries in free Countries ... verses Juries in U.S.
They must not instruct Canadian juries the same way they do Amerikan "juries" ... in Amerika, the government first attemtps to rig juries, by pre-screening jurors that have an opinion on anything. They're out... hopefully only pliant government-worshipping sheep are left. (That usually does the trick.) Then, if there is any doubt, the judge lies to the jury, "explaining" that if the deed was committed for whatever reason, they the jury must find the defendant guilty. This is to prevent juries from learning about or actually using their powers, which, they still seem to retain in countries like Canada and the UK where medical marijuana convictions are increasingly difficult to get. In the US, however, the Stalinist show-trials, pro-forma "trials" in name only, where the federal government "judge" tells you beforehand what defenses you aren't allowed to present (i.e. whatever defense you intended to present). The kangaroo court for the show-trial renders the expected "guilty" verdict, and the hapless marijuana user is thrown in jail all the longer for having the temerity to request a jury trial. But remember, it is all for the children. (The children of prosecutors, police and other government bureaucrats, that is. Not your children silly: your children go to jail.) 
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