Judge easy on medical marijuana crusader

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- A Canadian judge in Winnipeg, Manitoba, spared a convicted medical marijuana user and advocate from a prison term as he didn't have any "real victims."

Grant Krieger, 54, was convicted by a unanimous jury last year of trafficking marijuana to people across the country with debilitating and terminal diseases, the Winnipeg Free Press reported Tuesday.

In her ruling Monday, Justice Shawn Greenberg sentenced Krieger to a suspended sentence with nine months probation.

"Mr. Krieger is not like most of the drug offenders we sentence in this court," Greenberg said. "While Mr. Krieger's actions were illegal, many, perhaps most, would say they are not immoral. Indeed he has no real victims."

Krieger was diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis in 1978 and claims the only relief he gets from its effects come from smoking and eating marijuana. He admits to selling marijuana to scores of people, but only those with serious disabilities, the newspaper said.

The judge acknowledged his diligence in screening customers.

"Mr. Krieger provided people with marijuana only where he was satisfied they suffered from a serious illness such as cancer," she said. "For example, he once turned down a person who sought his assistance for a broken arm."