Pubdate: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) Copyright: 2001, The Globe and Mail Company Contact: http://www.globeandmail.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168 Author: Dawn Walton Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada) 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Andrew