SIMPSON CONSIDERS LEAVING COUNTRY

Found Guilty On Marijuana Charges, Sentenced To One Day In Custody, Fine

AMHERST - After Justice Felix Cacchione sentenced him to one day
custody deemed served by his court appearance, Rickey Logan Simpson
says he's not willing to remain in a country where he's labelled a
criminal because of his medicinal need for hemp oil.

"I may emmigrate to another country where I'm not persecuted for
using hemp oil," Simpson said after his sentencing, which included a
$2,000 fine to be paid by Aug. 15.

"Hemp oil is the only medicine I've found that controls my medical
condition, but our system denies this to me and to others."

Simpson was arrested in 2005 and went to trial this past September
facing one count each of production of marijuana, possession of
marijuana and possession of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for the
purpose of trafficking. A jury found Simpson guilty on all three counts.

"After five years of trying to bring this medicinal oil to the
people, I'm very disillusioned as to how this country is being run.
It seems the health and welfare of Canadians means nothing to
Ottawa," added Simpson.

For years, Simpson has been giving hemp oil to people with various
illnesses, including cancer, because he believes it cures those illnesses.

In delivering their recommendations, Crown attorney Monica McQueen
and defense attorney Duncan Beveridge each presented various cases
that had some similarities to Simpson's case. Both attorneys agreed
Simpson's case was unique in the fact that he has no prior related
record and was doing it for a non-commercial benefit.

The Crown's recommendation was to have Simpson placed in federal
custody for two years, while the defence recommended an absolute discharge.

Justice Cacchione felt a discharge would not be in the best interest
of the general public and would send a message to others that if they
don't like a certain law to ignore it and there would be no consequences.

He also said, however, that he has no doubt Simpson believes in what
he's been doing.

"Mr. Simpson has a sincere belief he has a cure with this oil and
should be commended, but in reality, he broke the law," said Cacchione.

If Simpson doesn't pay the $2,000 fine by Aug. 15, 2008, he will
spend six months in custody. He was also given a 10-year firearms
prohibition and forfeited the items seized.

While awaiting sentencing last year, Simpson was arrested at the end
of November on an unrelated, yet similar, charge. He is facing one
count of trafficking THC, and was remanded for several days before
being released after a show-cause hearing.

Since spending that time in custody, Simpson has conveyed that he
will not continue growing marijuana and trafficking THC.

"Mr. Simpson, I do hope those sentiments you have expressed through
your counsel are accurate and if you wish to continue trying to
change the law, there are proper channels go forward with," Cacchione added.

Simpson said following the sentencing that he thinks Cacchione has a
conscience, however he still wants to leave Canada.

"If this country does not change, God help the Canadian people."