Pubdate: Sat, 27 Sep 2008 Source: Chronicle Herald (CN NS) Copyright: 2008 The Halifax Herald Limited Contact: http://thechronicleherald.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/180 Author: Tom McCoag Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?330 (Hemp - Outside U.S.) MACCAN'S MARIJUANA MAVERICK ENTERS RACE Pot Advocate In Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley Battle AMHERST - The marijuana maverick is back to take a second crack at becoming MP for Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley. Rick Simpson, the Maccan man who believes he has found the cure for cancer in a marijuana paste he calls hemp oil, said Friday that he filed the necessary paperwork with the riding's returning officer earlier this week. "I'm running to get my message out," Mr. Simpson said. "I want to see lives saved and get the country on its feet and straightened out. Hemp is the answer to all our problems." Since his last run for federal office in 2006, Mr. Simpson has been convicted of trafficking in and illegally growing marijuana, but Mr. Simspon doesn't believe he is a criminal. "What's criminal is the corrupt big businesses and politicians who are preventing the message from getting out." As an example of the uphill battle to get the message out, he said he will not be able to participate in an all-candidates meeting set for Truro. "They've told me I can't participate because I'm just a one-issue candidate," he said. "Still, I would like to debate them and will challenge the other candidates to debate the issue. "I'm not just a one-issue candidate, either. I too am concerned about the environment, about people's health and the economy, only I've found the answer and the answer is hemp. My own work with my patients proves that hemp oil will help cure people of cancer, psoriasis and other diseases. We could cut millions from our health budget if it was allowed to be used." Marijuana would also help in the search for fuel sources, Mr. Simpson said. Half a hectare of hemp would produce 1,893 litres of ethanol, he said, but only 379 litres of bio-diesel. If an average rural household were allowed to grow 1.6 hectares of hemp, it would provide household energy needs and run all a family's vehicles, he added.. Furthermore, he said, "They show all these starving children living in harsh climates, but hemp can grow in those climates and the seeds could feed the people." If governments allowed the hemp industry to expand, "hundreds of thousands of earth-friendly jobs could be created and we wouldn't have to rely on fossil fuels," he said. "We could leave them in the ground because they would not be needed." The riding is being contested by the incumbent, Bill Casey, along with Joel Bernard (Tory), Liberal candidate Tracy Parsons (Liberal) and Karen Olsson (NDP). - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin