 |
Ads by Google
Money
Sign up for our FREE online daily news service. Your up to the minute business information source.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Last updated at 10:35 AM on 19/09/07 |
Simpson guilty 
Cumberland County hemp oil activist convicted on charges of possession, trafficking and production of marijuana
RAISSA TETANISH
The Amherst Daily News
AMHERST — Just because some “idiotic law” says he has to won’t stop Rickey Simpson from treating his patients suffering from illnesses such as cancer with cannabis oil.
“People have proven to me once again they have total lack of common sense. There’s something wrong with them,” Simpson said outside the courtroom yesterday after a jury found him guilty to one count each of possession of less than 30 grams of cannabis marijuana, possession of less than three kilograms of tetrahydrocannabinol for the purpose of trafficking and unlawful production of cannabis marijuana.
“I thought the jury would see this for what it is and that they would welcome this medicine.”
When discussing an adjournment for sentencing, Simpson told Justice Felix Cacchione to put him in jail that day.
“It may be better to lock me up right now. As soon as I get home I’m going to treat my patients. I’m going to grow that plant until the day I die, so I might as well be put in jail today. I can’t stop in the middle of (treatment). People’s lives are at stake here.”
In response, Justice Cacchione told Simpson that when a guilty verdict is found, bail is most often times revoked. He did, however, tell Simpson he wasn’t going to revoke his bail.
“You have complied with all your bail terms, so for that reason, I am not going to,” said Justice Cacchione, adding that Simpson has until 4 p.m. Wednesday to visit the parole board office to set up a time for a pre-sentence report
The Crown’s office went by way of summary conviction to the first charge and indictment by the second two. Simpson could be facing a fine as a sentence to the simple possession charge. The trafficking charge could carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison, while the maximum sentence of unlawful production is seven years.
Crown attorney Monica McQueen didn’t have much a reaction to the verdict, and couldn’t speculate on the sentencing recommendation the Crown would be submitting to the courts.
Simpson’s sentencing has been adjourned for a pre-sentence report upon Justice Cacchione’s request, who also wants to see the crown’s position on sentencing.
Simpson will return to court for sentencing at 12 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2007, his 58th birthday.
rtetanish@amherstdaily.com
|
19/09/07
|
Comments: |
|
This Conversation is Semi-Moderated. What is moderation?
|
| What does moderation mean? |
 |
The Amherst Daily News is committed to encouraging intelligent discourse among our readers and to creating a forum where diverse views and opinions on a wide range of topics can be aired. The forum you are in now is a result of our continuing efforts to facilitate a dynamic online conversation among our readers.
This is a semi-moderated or reactively moderated conversation. Once a reader follows the steps to register and submit his or her comment it goes directly to the website. A comment may be edited or deleted for reasons of content or language.
All readers wishing to join a conversation must first sign in and agree to the Terms of Usage, which explain the rules of acceptable content.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Karen from Nova Scotia writes: What I don't understand about this case is that Mr. Simpson is charged for trafficing but the thing is he was giving it all away. He wasn't charging for his hemp oil or marijuana.
|
| Posted 19/09/2007 at 11:07 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
Steve from NS writes: Karen,
Giving away or selling constitutes trafficking. Either way he is creating traffic in a conrtrolled substance.
|
| Posted 19/09/2007 at 11:48 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
|
sharon tanti from ontario, ontario writes: I have seen first hand how this helps, our governement sucks. Its all about taxes and money the govt makes not what they can really do to help.
|
| Posted 19/09/2007 at 12:18 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
Steve from NS writes: Sharon,
From the evidence and from MR. Simpson's own admission he was growing refining and distributing this drug and clearly had enough on hand to be considered a drug dealer by law, and by his own admission in court he will continue this practice regardless of the punishment. The government is charging him with simple possession. The government could have put him behind bars for up ot 5 years, this amounts to decriminalization by my defination. The government and the courts are bound to react to this type of behaviour but MR. Simpson looks like he's going to get a slap on the wrist. I personally think there is a strong message being sent here, and I think you should reconsider your statment.
|
| Posted 19/09/2007 at 2:01 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
|
matt taylor from amherst, nova scotia writes: I need canabis for my appietite .PLease give me some smoke for I would feel healty again.
|
| Posted 19/09/2007 at 2:59 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
Larry from NS writes: Steve,
Research indicates the opposite of your pronunciations. THC cures! That simple. To deny a cure to the people amounts to sanctioned euthenasia, or worse, death by lethal injection. Check out the chemical content of chemo. One of the many in the cocktail is 'lamusin' the same ingredient as in mustard gas. I guess if it was good enough to kill soldiers in WW1 it must be good for cancer. (like Agent Orange in NB)
Larry
The Cancer Cure NS team
Cumberland County, Canada's Cancer Cure Community
www.PhoenixTears.ca
|
| Posted 19/09/2007 at 4:51 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
|
Derek Telasco from Windsor, Ontario writes: A sad day for Canadian justice to be sure. When will our courts get off the American tit and side with the truth? This insanity must come to an end. How many people have died from Vioxx and Celebrex that would still be alive today if they used Cannabis instead? 8000+ years of recorded history and not a single death... WAKE UP SHEEPLE!!!
|
| Posted 19/09/2007 at 7:32 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
|
Eric from N.S. writes: For sure hemp heals. Time to test and check it out. Have seen results that it,s a cure. Do not worry the government will make their money in other ways, perscripton drugs will be around forever. There will always be a need for most drugs, but why when something cures cancer, etc, why is it illegal? Does not make sense. We need all the people it has helped to come forward.
|
| Posted 20/09/2007 at 12:15 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
Smokey from NS writes: I think the government has too much time and money. Here they are convicting someone for helping others by providing a service, much like a Doctor prescribes his medicine without knowing the true effects. And fly helicopters around while other drug labs go on producing.
Too bad they wouldn't stop these acts of trafficking.
I like the comment about the mustard gas, the soldiers that died from this had no choice. But as adults we should have the right to make our own decision on what may be an alternative to a painful and deadly disease.
|
| Posted 20/09/2007 at 12:34 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
|
jim from nova scotia writes: ricks no dought givin some people a new lease on life ... the pharmacudical companies wont aknowlge this as they have known it works for years ....theres no money in a cure but billons in treatment$$$$$$ this trial was a joke as the people that should have been heard from the most were silenced.... the people cured from cancer from the use of grass oil ....hard to belive huh??? but very true....
|
| Posted 20/09/2007 at 1:33 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
| ALERT US ABOUT THIS COMMENT |
|
Please let us know if this reader's comment breaks the rules explained in the Terms of Usage and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.
Do not use this to complain about comments that don't break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.
|
|
|
NOTE
The management of this site emphasizes that it is in no way liable for persons, physical or legal, who are hosted here. Moreover, the managers of this site may not be held liable for errors and omissions that may slip into the information displayed in these reader comments. Everyone who submits a comment should read, understand and agree to the Terms of Usage for this section.
|
|
|
|
|
