Pubdate: Fri, 06 Oct 2006
Source: Chronicle Herald (CN NS)
Copyright: 2006 The Halifax Herald Limited
Contact:  http://thechronicleherald.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/180
Author: Cathy Von Kintzel, Truro Bureau

SUPPORT FOR POT OIL CLOSES LEGION

Officials Temporarily Suspend Maccan Branch's Charter

Maccan - Provincial Royal Canadian Legion officials have shut down 
their Maccan branch for supporting use of a homemade marijuana oil 
that some local members claim saves lives and relieves suffering.

But an ousted executive member says he's not backing down.

"They can take our charter off the wall but they can't run from the 
truth," Rick Dwyer of Maccan said in a telephone interview Thursday.

"We're a watchdog to make sure human rights, freedom of speech and 
democracy are protected. This medicine is so phenomenal."

Mr. Dwyer, 51, calls the marijuana oil a safe, natural, cancer-curing 
substance that is being withheld from the public by a corrupt 
government and powerful pharmaceutical companies.

The Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of the Royal Canadian Legion 
temporarily suspended the Maccan legion's charter Wednesday, ousted 
its executive and intends to appoint a new management committee.

Provincial command chairman Steve Wessel is well aware of the strong 
support for the oil and its local producer, Rick Simpson, in the 
rural Cumberland County area outside Amherst but he said the legion 
name, insignia and buildings cannot be involved.

At issue was the legion members' hosting and promoting of public 
meetings regarding the oil and its benefits, despite repeated 
warnings to cease. A meeting planned for the legion on Wednesday was 
moved to a nearby ball field.

"The Royal Canadian Legion has a very good reputation in the general 
public and we don't want to soil that reputation by making it look 
like we're backing something that clearly is against the law at this 
point," Mr. Wessel said.

Mr. Dwyer, who is past president of the Maccan legion branch, said 
the action trampled members' rights.

"We are the real Canadian legion," he said.

"I'm so proud of the members for standing up and defending this. We 
will not stand by and watch the outright genocide of the Canadian people."

Mr. Dwyer has investigated Mr. Simpson's claims about the healing 
powers of his homemade oil, has read affidavits and research and has 
interviewed patients, many of whom he knows personally.

He said his 82-year-old father with lung cancer began consuming the 
oil in June after he was given 48 hours to live. He's still alive.

Mr. Dwyer and other legion members made no secret of their support 
for Mr. Simpson's oil and notified the provincial command and local 
politicians.

"When we see the government doing something wrong, it's our duty to 
stand up and say so," he said.

Mr. Simpson, who is fighting drug charges in court due to his 
marijuana-growing activities, makes the yellowish grease-like 
medicine by extracting essential oils from the leaves and buds of 
marijuana plants.

He gives it away.

"It's a simple herbal remedy that's non-addictive" and cures cancer 
and other diseases, he said, adding patients don't get high if they 
take it in small regular doses.

Maccan legion president George Theal wasn't surprised by the 
provincial command's move and hopes the facility can reopen by next week.

Mr. Theal was not as vocal as Mr. Dwyer and didn't want to wade into 
the politics of the issue. He reflected mainly on the legion's 
importance in the community.

"It's used for bingo and for having fundraisers when people need 
assistance," he said, adding there are no other community halls in the area.
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MAP posted-by: Jim