ACTIVIST SPREADS HIS MESSAGE

When he thinks of how his forefathers took bullets for our freedoms,
Neil Magnuson can't believe what a slap in the face it must be for
those soldiers today.

"Freedom to obey is not what they went to war to take bullets for,"
said the 50-year-old activist from Vancouver, who is currently in Vernon.

Magnuson stands behind and speaks for a number of issues, but there is
one issue which he feels strongest about. One which inspired him to
quit his job three years ago and travel the country spreading his message.

That message is freedom - hence the name of the second annual
Freedom Tour.

The journey for justice, which began in Victoria, has Magnuson
rollerblading 12,000 miles to Ottawa, where his journey culminates on
Remembrance Day.

Many commuters may spot the activist rolling along highways and
downtown streets, sporting a Canadian cannabis flag on the end of a
hockey stick.

In his commute across the country, he is followed by many and receives
a wealth of support.

"There's always people with me. There's quite a crew that hands me off
from town to town."

Wherever his supporters are, Magnuson stops to visit and participate
in local rallies and events.

One such event has brought him to Vernon for the second year in a row
- - the Peace and Awareness Rally at Polson Park Monday from noon to
dusk. Magnuson is a guest speaker of the event, and he will be bring
awareness about the the rights and freedoms he believes Canadians are
losing.

The prime topic that Magnuson focuses on, in all of his campaigning,
is drug prohibition.

"As soon as you start prohibition, the use and abuse increases, so it
does the exact opposite of what they (enforcement) are trying to do,"
said Magnuson, who uses marijuana for back pain and depression.

"I think if they prohibited marshmallows, marshmallows would be on
streets corners at exorbitant prices."

He sees prohibition as a loss of a freedom to use something that can
provide so many benefits, not just medicinally, but in the case of
hemp seed, nutritionally.

"The vast majority are simply using, not abusing it."

He points to how it is legal to smoke cancer-causing cigarettes, take
mind-altering prescription drugs and drink alcohol with all the
effects it has on society.

"We live in a world full of substances that could hurt
people.

"Yet, we're arresting more people in Canada for cannabis offences than
anything else. We're charging people with intending to ingest
something to make them feel better."

He says there is logic to prohibition, which he encourages more people
to follow.

"It doesn't make any sense until you follow the dollar
figures.

"This is all extremely disrespectful and unfair and all coming down
from the federal government of Canada."

As he spreads his message, Magnuson is seeing more and more people add
their support, even if it's just by listening to him and getting informed.

It is this growing support that is helping in raising awareness and
keeping Freedom Tour growing to hopefully turn into a Celebration of
Freedom Tour.

"There's no stopping it now."

"We're never going to stop the corporate influence but for anybody who
wants to be able to opt out, to eat locally, to take herbs, etc., they
need to be able to do that."