FIGHTING FOR A CAUSE YOU BELIEVE IN

You have to the give the man credit. He's fighting for something he
believes in and he's not about to let the system shut him up.

When Maccan's Rick Simpson was first charged with growing marijuana back in
August, most people thought yet another drug dealer had been caught plying
his trade. What we quickly learned, though, is that Simpson is not a drug
dealer, he's the farthest thing from it and has every reason to be upset
when he's treated like an ordinary criminal.

Yes, according to this nation's Criminal Code Simpson's activities, growing
marijuana, is illegal. Marijuana is a drug that has left a horrible mark on
many lives and families and it should never be legalized in this country.
Decriminalized for small amounts maybe, but never legalized.

Simpson does not advocate using marijuana. Instead, he takes the marijuana
plant, breaks it down and extracts what he considers a wonder drug - hemp
oil. Most Canadians don't know a lot about hemp oil and Simpson believes
that indifference is the fault of government and large pharmaceuticals who
don't want the average person to know its medicinal qualities.

So, like a modern Robin Hood, Simpson grows the product, and produces the
oil that he gives away free of charge to people he knows who are suffering
from cancer and other ailments. They swear by its effects and he firmly
believes he is helping people.

Apparently the medicinal qualities of hemp oil have been known by various
peoples through the ages. Unfortunately it often gets mixed up with its
addictive cousin and has been given a bad rap, and those who use it often
end up on the wrong side of the law.

Simpson is so convinced that's he's going through the time and expense of
launching a Charter challenge before the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia to
clear his name and wants part of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
struck down because consenting adults are producing, sharing and using hemp
oil solely for medicinal purposes.

What Simpson is saying maybe right. We may very well be missing an
opportunity to bring relief to people through the controlled use of hemp
oil. Then again, it may just be a placebo that gives people the
psychological impression that they are being cured.

No matter what the courts decide, it's not an issue that should just be
swept under the rug and Simpson should not be treated like your average run
of the mill criminal with a conviction and a hefty fine to pay.

We should find out, scientifically, if there's merit to his argument. If
there is, we should take advantage of this drug under controlled
circumstances, meaning not every person can simply grow their own supply
because there will be no controls on safety and quality and there's no
guarantee the plants won't be used for something other than hemp oil production.