TURMEL: Grower Richard Johnson gets 6 months probation

[John Turmel]

JCT: You'll remember Richard Johnson who had his motions to
prohibit and quash heard in Elliot Lake earlier this year,
he had his trial on Thursday December 15 and the decision on
Friday.

He was charged with cultivation (around 60 plants) under
s.7(1) and possession for the purpose of trafficking. And he
was charged for possession of 1 gram of oil and charged with
possession of some unregistered rifles. The Crown asked for
a 18 months in jail.

What no one knew until now is that Richard finally received
his Health Canada exemption so he can prove he was always
sick enough to have able to cultivate and possess. It must
have helped because the judge dismissed the charge of
cultivation since he had a good reason (a Krieger reason),
he dismissed the possession for the purpose of trafficking
because there was no evidence of trafficking and he did have
a good reason for the possession but sentenced him to 3
months probation for the gram of oil and 3 months probation
for the unregistered firearms and a ban on owning guns for
10 years.

This may not seem like much but Richard's a hunter who lives
in the woods and taking away his rifles is going to hurt his
lifestyle. Regardless, no jail and the marijuana charges
dismissed. Pretty good result.