Pubdate: Mon, 14 May 2012
Source: Amherst Daily News (CN NS)
Copyright: Amherst Daily News 2012
Contact:  http://www.amherstdaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3379

CHARGES AGAINST CANNABIS CRUSADER WITHDRAWN

Cannabis Crusader Has Been in Europe Since 2009

AMHERST - A series of drug charges against an Athol man who says he's 
exiled in Europe have been withdrawn.

Rickey Logan Simpson, 62, was charged with the production of cannabis 
marijuana, possession of cannabis marijuana for the purpose of 
trafficking and possession of cannabis marijuana and possession of 
cannabis resin following a raid of his Athol Road home in November 
2009. Simpson was in Amsterdam, Holland accepting the Freedom Fighter 
of the Year Award at the annual Cannabis Cup when the raid occurred 
and it's believe he has been in Europe since then.

Crown attorney Doug Shatford said the court approved a forfeiture 
application against Simpson under the Controlled Drugs and Substances 
Act last week. Once that occurred, he brought forward a motion to 
withdraw the charges against Simpson, who declared himself an exile 
in Europe after the 2009 raid.

"The application was made to forfeit the items that were seized in 
the raid and upon completion of that the decision was made to 
withdraw the charges," Shatford said Friday.

Under the order, Simpson forfeits cannabis marijuana and resin seized 
in the raid along with growing equipment, marijuana plants and seeds, 
syringes, three crossbows and arrows, two pellet guns - including one 
with scope and suspected silencer, grow up materials, video 
equipment, books, documents and building materials.

Shatford said one the issues facing the court was Simpson's whereabouts.

"We're really not sure where he is. We believe he is somewhere in 
Europe. He had been in Holland, but we're not sure if he's still 
there or somewhere else in Europe," Shatford said.

Withdrawing the charges would appear to clear the way for Simpson to 
return to Canada. Shatford is not aware of any other outstanding 
charges against him.

In December 2009, Simpson said via email he could not return to 
Canada because he would be put in jail "without jail or medicine."

He said he's not afraid of jail, but could not go without his 
medicine. To him, returning to Canada "would be like committing suicide."

Simpson said he grew the marijuana plants, extracted the oil, and 
provided it free of charge. He said he has never hidden his 
activities from police. After he was convicted in 2007, he told the 
judge he would not stop.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom