cannabisnews.com: Reluctant Jury Convicts Medical Pot Grower Reluctant Jury Convicts Medical Pot Grower Posted by CN Staff on February 01, 2003 at 10:14:11 PT By Claire Cooper -- Bee Legal Affairs Writer Source: Sacramento Bee The man who has been called the Martha Stewart of marijuana was convicted by a reluctant federal jury Friday of supplying hundreds of pot seedlings to patients through Bay Area dispensaries.Edward Rosenthal, 58, the author of a dozen books on marijuana and an advice column that runs in two national marijuana advocacy magazines, faces at least five years in prison and steep fines for violating U.S. laws on marijuana cultivation and conspiracy. The jury refused to convict him of growing more than 1,000 pot plants, as the government had charged. The higher number would have subjected him to a 10-year minimum sentence.Rosenthal, who remains free on $200,000 bond, will be sentenced in June.The conviction was the federal government's biggest trophy so far in a two-year war that has closed pot farms and cooperatives from Chico to West Hollywood, some of them sanctioned by their communities as official pot providers under California's medical marijuana initiative."My case clearly demonstrates that it is time for a national debate on the issue of medical marijuana," Rosenthal said after the verdict.The federal Drug Enforcement Administration, however, issued a new warning to marijuana outlets Friday."None of them should be surprised when we pay them a visit," said DEA spokesman Richard Meyer.No pot operation should view itself as being condoned, he said, by "the fact that we have not gotten to all of them."Valerie Corral, a leader of the state's medical marijuana movement, said the federal efforts had not diminished pot use among patients. The chief effect of Rosenthal's conviction, she said, would be to further divert marijuana trade to the black market and "just make prices higher."Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/rjc.htm Source: Sacramento Bee (CA)Author: Claire Cooper -- Bee Legal Affairs WriterPublished: Saturday, February 1, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Sacramento BeeContact: opinion sacbee.comWebsite: http://www.sacbee.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:WAMM: http://www.wamm.org/Green-Aid.com: http://www.green-aid.com California NORML: http://www.canorml.org/Marijuana Policy Project: http://www.mpp.org/Americans For Safe Access: http://www.safeaccessnow.orgWAMM Raided By DEA: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/valc.htmPictures From WAMM Protest: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/eventpics.htmEd Rosenthal's Trial Pictures & Articles: http://freedomtoexhale.com/trialpics.htmBryan Epis Protest Pictures & Articles: http://freedomtoexhale.com/protestpics.htmRosenthal Found Guilty on Charges: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15349.shtmlMedical Pot Advocate Found Guilty: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15348.shtmlEd Rosenthal Convicted -- New Trial Sought: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15344.shtmlGuru of Ganja Convicted of Marijuana Cultivation: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15340.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #8 posted by charmed quark on February 02, 2003 at 12:49:40 PT GCW - Space Program- Ashcroft GCW - The space program represents our aspirations. The war on medical marijuana represents the dark side of our society. Maybe the evil side. But that doesn't mean that we should throw out all aspects of our federal government.-Pete [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by firedog on February 01, 2003 at 23:24:27 PT Terrible day This morning, when I woke up, I came to cannabisnews to see what was going on in the world. It was here that I learned that the space shuttle had blown up, and that Ed had been convicted.Both are tragic and sad, and for different reasons, but I would have to say that Ed's conviction made me much sadder. It had a much greater impact on me than the shuttle disaster.Why? The shuttle disaster was (hopefully) an accident, a chance occurrence, impersonal. Flying into space and back is inherently risky, but that risk was accepted by the astronauts. I'm sure they loved being in space, and at least their end was swift. They died doing something that they loved.Ed's conviction, however, was deliberate. It was the result of malicious intent by the Feds - Breyer, Bush, Ashcroft, and company. It was the result of callous indifference by the jury. This jury's actions demonstrate very clearly why the Holocaust was possible, and just how little things have changed since then. Ed stands a very real risk of dying in jail. He might well have a very slow, painful and depressing end, deprived of the opportunity to do the things he loves.In short, it proves (as if we need any more proof) just how mean-spirited humans can be towards one another, and how so many people will just stand back and let it happen.My heart goes out to everyone who has suffered today. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by The GCW on February 01, 2003 at 17:31:05 PT The sadness I feel for Ed, Is beyond measure compared to any Federal government shuttle problem.The sadness I feel extends past the Feds. that railroad Ed to everything the Fed. government touches or has anything to do with.Contempt, for the Federal gov. Contempt for evil.Any and all Federal anything, is somehow intertwined with Ed's circumstances.The Federal gov. has raised My ire, and I am entertwined with Christ God Our Father.I don't approve!SPEED?Hey, You don't suppose those shuttle people were doing speed, do You? If they allow the fighter pilots to use speed to get the mission done, what are the space shuttle crew allowed to use?Naw, they wouldn't be stupid enough (I'm only kidding [YES they sould]) to allow drugs on the shuttle, for the possability of fatal impared judgement...If they allowed speed freaks to fly bombers, (and use barbituates to come down) it is worth investigating where else the government allows what they disallow...It would not surprise Me at all that doggie uppers and doggie downers go to space. And if so, it must be pointed out.Even to create news of the suspicion, that space pilots use the same drugs war pilots use, at the right moment, may prove good for the cause of cannabis Re-legalization.And what if they do use speed, and it caused the explosion?The government confronts humans that have accidents in cars if they have 10 day old THC in their system, claiming they were legally impared for having it in their system at all.If those pilots are allowed speed, then it is in their system and like THC, must be used to implicate the driver regardless of imparement... Did the Fed. Gov. supply drugs to this crew? Will the Fed. gov. get a fair trial? [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on February 01, 2003 at 14:51:11 PT charmed quark & Everyone It is a sad day. I feel very sorry for the families who have lost their loved ones that were on the Shuttle. The news has slowed down so I'm able to catch up on the event. I remember right where I was when the Challenger blew up. I guess now there will be one more day that we won't forget. I hope anyone who wants to talk about the Shuttle disaster or Ed Rosenthal feels free to drop in to CNews chat and share how they feel.http://www.cannabisnews.com/chat/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by charmed quark on February 01, 2003 at 12:33:45 PT: Challenger, now Columbia I remember watching the Columbia land for the first time in 1981, hearing that double sonic boom as it approached us at Edwards.Soon after I was working on a project that I hoped would get tested on a shuttle, maybe with me as a mission specialist. My illness put an end to any possibility of getting to fly, and the Challenger explosion ended my project.Somehow, my illness, the cannabis I use to treat it, and the shuttle all feel tied together and bookended.I'm very sad.-Pete [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by afterburner on February 01, 2003 at 12:07:37 PT: Reluctant Jury Convicts, But Not Reluctant Enough. The jury refused to convict him of growing more than 1,000 pot plants, as the government had charged. The higher number would have subjected him to a 10-year minimum sentence.Mahatma Gandhi quotes:"Non-cooperation with evil is as much a duty as cooperation with good.""One who uses coercion is guilty of deliberate violence. Coercion is inhuman." "Democracy is not a state in which people act like sheep." "Democracy necessarily means a conflict of will and ideas, involving sometimes a war . . . between different ideas.""First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." ego destruction or ego transcendence, that is the question."Don't tred on me." (Culpepper Flags) http://gen.culpepper.com/historical/flag.htmSupport Ed in his appeals:GREEN AID: The Medical Marijuana Legal Defense and Education Fund Postal Mail Box 172 484 Lake Park Avenue Oakland, CA 94610http://www.green-aid.comValerie Corral, a leader of the state's medical marijuana movement, said the federal efforts had not diminished pot use among patients. The chief effect of Rosenthal's conviction, she said, would be to further divert marijuana trade to the black market and "just make prices higher."Does life follow art; does art follow life? According to the cable-made movie Elvis Meets Nixon (1997), Nixon says that the goal of the DEA is to drive up illegal drug prices. Go figure. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by freedom fighter on February 01, 2003 at 11:39:05 PT Reluctant Verdict? So the Jury claimed their hands were tied?Uh, oh, did'nt the German people said the same thing about the "jews" in past?"Oh, but, it was the Law."Nobody twisted the jury's arms and said that this must be the verdict based on JUDGE's evidence.Ain't this country great or what? Here I am working along aside with this dude who got 3 yrs probation for kidnapping and felony meancing with a gun, while Ed, the weed grower gets to head out to a CAGE for years!Feeling Safer now? Call me a cynic when Mr. Meyers announced that he is going after our neighbors. Call me a lying b....d, that this country, the America, will hold millions millions more human beings in prison systems. Currently 2 millions, will 6 more millions be enough?The Liberty Lady was weeping so hard, her blindfold sagged so much from the tears. When asked, why she is crying? She said, "My hands are all red!"ff [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Imprint on February 01, 2003 at 11:28:46 PT Bad News Loosing the Columbia Shuttle is so tragic. My heart goes out to the astronauts, their families and all involved in the space program. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment