SEIZED MARIJUANA PLANTS HAD VALUE UP TO $830,000 - RCMP

AMHERST - If a heavy cannabis user were to grow 1,190 plants for
personal use, it would take approximately 76 years to use the supply
of bud produced in its entirety, according to Cpl. James Duggan, the
expert witness for the Crown during Rick Simpson's Supreme Court trial.

"A very heavy user that I've spoken to has said he smokes 10
(marijuana) joints per day. At between one-third to one-half gram per
joint, that relates to approximately three grams per day," said
Duggan, who has been dedicated to the Northeast Nova Drug Section since 2001.

During direct examination, Duggan estimated the 1,190 marijuana plants
confiscated from Simpson's property during the Aug. 3, 2005, raid
would have a street value between $464,000 and $830,000, depending on
if sold by the gram or pound.

From his experience and training, a pound of marijuana could be sold
for $2,500, while a gram would sell for at least $10.

While indicating the price value of the marijuana if sold on the
streets, Simpson asked Duggan during cross-examination if it would be
common practice for a dealer to have small plastic bags to store the
marijuana in. Upon Duggan agreeing it would be common practice,
Simpson pointed out that no baggies were found during the raid.

"If you took a pound of marijuana and extracted the oil, how much
would that value be?" Simpson asked Duggan.

When Duggan couldn't answer, Simpson asked what the monetary gain
would be if he was giving the oil away.

"There would be no monetary gain there," responded
Duggan.

Much like the second day of trial, Simpson asked for speculation on
Duggan's part in regards to several areas, including why the RCMP
hadn't shown anyone in the organization a video he had dropped off
detailing what he was doing with the marijuana, as well as if police
resources were being well spent on focusing on marijuana instead of
harder drugs like heroin.

More than a dozen times during cross-examination, Justice Felix
Cacchione had to step in to remind Simpson he couldn't ask Duggan to
speculate on areas outside his expertise, or to make statements.

Simpson will begin his defence today.