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                                                               EXHIBIT 2.(a)(b)

                                     Opinion and Consent of Robert-John H. Sands








April 27, 2000



Acacia National Life Insurance Company
7315 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, Maryland  20814

Gentlemen:

With reference to the Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration No.
333-95593 on Form S-6 filed by Acacia National Variable Life Insurance Company
and Acacia National Variable Life Insurance Separate Account I with the
Securities and Exchange Commission covering flexible premium life insurance
policies, I have examined such documents and such laws as I considered necessary
and appropriate, and on the basis of such examination, it is my opinion that:

    1.   Acacia National Variable Life Insurance Company is duly organized and
         validly existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and has
         been duly authorized to issue individual flexible premium variable life
         policies by the Bureau of Insurance, State Corporation Commission of
         the Commonwealth of Virginia.

   2.    Acacia National Variable Life Insurance Separate Account I is a duly
         authorized and existing separate account established pursuant to the
         provisions of Virginia, ss. 38.2-3113.

   3.    The flexible premium variable universal life policies, when issued as
         contemplated by said Form S-6 Registration Statement, will constitute
         legal, validly issued and binding obligations of Acacia National Life
         Insurance Company.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to said Form S-6 Registration Statement and to the
use of my name under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus contained in
the Registration Statement.

Sincerely,

/s/ Robert-John H. Sands
Robert-John H. Sands
Senior Vice President, Corporate Secretary and General Counsel