POLICE RAID POT ADVOCATE'S HOME

The Amherst-area man who believes marijuana cures cancer says he is
seeking political refuge in Europe.

In a video on his Phoenix Tears website, Rick Simpson said police
raided his home Nov. 25 and will charge him in connection with items
they seized.

"If I return home, I will be arrested and put in jail without bail or
medicine," Mr. Simpson wrote on his website.

He travelled to Amsterdam last month to accept an award at the
infamous Cannabis Cup festival, where marijuana growers vie for the
approval of thousands of judges.

Mr. Simpson won the freedom fighter of the year award for his work in
trying to get marijuana recognized as a cure-all medicinal product.

The marijuana advocate said he has seen hemp oil cure terminal lung
cancer. He claims he has always given the product away for free.

Mr. Simpson is believed to be living in Czech Republic with
friends.

On his website, he said returning to Canada would be akin to
committing suicide.

"I would be thrown in jail and denied my medicine, and a short time
later, you would hear in the news that Rick Simpson died of natural
causes," he wrote.

Over the past few years, Mr. Simpson has been convicted twice of
trafficking marijuana and once of possessing marijuana.

Meanwhile, Sgt. Brigdit Leger, an RCMP spokeswoman, confirmed Tuesday
that investigators have laid charges against Mr. Simpson as a result
of a raid on his home.

"We confiscated 70 pounds of marijuana, a quantity of cannabis resin
and drug-trafficking material," she said.

As well, officers seized a crossbow.

Since Mr. Simpson is prohibited from owning weapons because of his
earlier convictions, Sgt. Leger said he will also be charged in
relation to that matter.

The charges include possession of a weapon while prohibited, placing a
device intended for bodily harm, production of marijuana, possession
of marijuana and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Unbeknownst to police officers who took part in the raid, there was a
video device taping the raid from inside the home.

When the tape showed up on YouTube and Mr. Simpson's website, Sgt.
Leger said officers took notice.

"We were just recently made aware of the tape and it's under review,"
she said.

"Officer safety is important to us," she said.

The tape is being reviewed to ensure that the safety of the officers
has not been put in jeopardy because they have been identified, Sgt.
Leger said.

A summons has been issued for Mr. Simpson to appear in Amherst
provincial court on Jan. 11.

"We want to make sure it's understood we don't target individuals,"
said Sgt. Leger. "We target crime."