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Krieger Off to Jail-Pending Pot Problem Solution
By Hempology | April 2, 2007
Marijuana crusader and medicinal pot user Grant Krieger must serve time behind bars for trafficking in the drug, a judge ruled today.But provincial court Judge William Pepler delayed the start of Krieger’s four-month sentence so provincial corrections officials can make arrangements for him to have his dope in jail.Pepler agreed with Crown prosecutor Scott Couper a term of incarceration was warranted, even though Krieger peddled marijuana for altruistic reasons.
Krieger, 52, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, was convicted last September, of two charges of trafficking cannabis.
Pepler rejected defence lawyer John Hooker’s argument the charges against his client were unconstitutional.
In each case Krieger sent quantities of the drug by courier to a Manitoban who required pot for medicinal purposes.
The Calgary area resident sent 306.5 grams on Dec. 23, 2003, and another 495 grams on Jan. 8, 2004, as part of his work with the Compassion Club and the Krieger foundation.
The street value of the drugs if sold at the gram level was about $8,000.
Hooker had sought a fine, arguing Krieger’s crimes weren’t for commercial gain.
But Pepler agreed with Couper’s assertion jail was warranted, even though he had concerns about Krieger’s ability to access marijuana while behind bars.
Couper told the judge the provincial government has not yet made provisions to allow prisoners with constitutional exemptions to the pot law access to the drug.
Krieger was granted an exemption to grow his own pot after Alberta courts ruled there was no other way he could get the drug he was permitted to use for medicinal purposes.
“The provincial corrections people essentially won’t allow him to have marijuana inside the institution,” Couper said outside court, in explaining the delay in sending Krieger to custody.
“He delayed the sentence to allow the provincial corrections people to sort it out.”
The matter will be brought back to court June 18, to determine of the problem has been resolved by then.
Krieger can commence his jail term in the meantime if corrections officials find a way to allow him access to pot, which relives symptoms of his MS.
Topics: Articles, CD-13th, Spring 2007 | Comments Off
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