cannabisnews.com: Pot Case Jurors Call For New Trial





Pot Case Jurors Call For New Trial
Posted by CN Staff on February 05, 2003 at 08:55:07 PT
By Claire Cooper -- Bee Legal Affairs Writer
Source: Sacramento Bee 
Seven jurors who convicted a prominent medical marijuana activist called for a new trial Tuesday, rebelling against what they said was a misleading case and intimidating atmosphere.At an unusual rally outside the federal courthouse here, several jurors, defiant and shaken, expressed solidarity with defendant Edward Rosenthal four days after convicting him of running a massive pot-growing operation in West Oakland.
Rosenthal is the author of a dozen books about marijuana and a how-to column for pot magazines. He was a major supplier for medical pot dispensaries in the Bay Area. However, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer barred all evidence of medical use at the trial.Smiling and unbowed, Rosenthal appeared at the noon rally to embrace jurors following a hearing at which the government's motion to take him into custody was denied for the immediate future. He remains free on $200,000 bond. The judge said he may keep Rosenthal out of prison permanently because his case is unusual."Both the jury and I were victims of vicious persecution," Rosenthal said at the rally.The jurors said they began having misgivings as soon as they disbanded Friday. One bit of missing information -- that Rosenthal had been deputized by Oakland to supply that city's pot program -- would have forced them to acquit, they said.Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/nt.htm Source: Sacramento Bee (CA)Author: Claire Cooper -- Bee Legal Affairs WriterPublished: Wednesday, February 5, 2003Copyright: 2003 The Sacramento BeeContact: opinion sacbee.comWebsite: http://www.sacbee.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Green-Aid.com http://www.green-aid.com Americans For Safe Access http://www.safeaccessnow.orgEd Rosenthal's Trial Pictures & Articleshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/trialpics.htmJurors Who Convicted Grower Seek New Trialhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15376.shtmlReluctant Jury Convicts Medical Pot Growerhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15350.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by pokesmotter on February 05, 2003 at 09:18:27 PT:
interesting situation
This is very unique; never before can I remember, have jurors who have convicted someone came out against their own ruling. Obviously, they did feel threatened or intimidated and after making their decision, realizing what they had done. Truth is something that was censored in this trial and the jurors now know it. Change is coming people...
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