Pubdate: Tue, 23 May 2017 Source: Daily Press, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2017 Sun Media Contact: http://www.timminspress.com/letters Website: http://www.timminspress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1001 Author: Ron Grech Page: A3 HEMPFEST BURNS OUT Organizer cancelling event due to lack of sponsorship and declining health The organizer behind Northern Ontario's longest running hemp festival is pulling the plug. Robert Neron, a Moonbeam resident and long-time activist in support of freer access to medical marijuana, made the announcement through a posting on social media on Sunday. He said unless someone else comes forward to take over managing the event, the cancellation of Hempfest is likely permanent. In his announcement, Neron also revealed his intention to "retire completely from any activism" in the future. "My health will no longer permit me to do so," he told The Daily Press in an interview Sunday night. "As for Hempfest, lack of money from sponsors killed the festival I can no longer sustain myself, my health, little less a not-for-profit festival." The 19th-annual Hempfest was scheduled to be an eight-day event, held in mid August in Moonbeam. In the past, the event brought in cover bands, guest speakers and vendors of hemp products. However, with no financial support from sponsors, "I can no longer afford to pay for it out my own little pension," Neron said in his posting on social media."So, Hempfest dies this year. Lack of up-front money from sponsors is the cause, not the lack of interest by the owner." With The Daily Press, Neron spoke of his declining health, saying it has been aggravated by recent legal troubles which he said have never been fully resolved. Neron has Hodgkin's lymphoma and another medical condition called cervical dystonia which causes painful, twisting muscle contractions in the neck. For the most part of the last 20 years, Neron has been legally permitted to possess and grow medical marijuana as treatment or pain relief from these conditions. Neron was arrested in March 2011 after he had allowed his licence to possess and grow cannabis marijuana lapse. He pleaded guilty in May 2016 to production of cannabis but the court took into consideration Neron's medicinal use of drug even though he wasn't properly licensed at the time, and handed down a conditional discharge. Neron was told at the sentencing the cultivation equipment seized by police when he was arrested would be returned to him in "due time." Neron told The Daily Press on Sunday, he is still waiting for the return of that equipment. "After being busted six years ago, I've just been going downhill fast," he said. "Still no equipment returned after the Crown being ordered to do so within 30 days. I was prescribed this medication to save my life, now being deprived of it for so long. I'm just dying slowly, painfully Haven't had anything (medical marijuana) since January." Neron feels at this point as if he has fallen through the cracks, "Just another proof that Health Canada system has failed a 20-year exemptee," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt