cannabisnews.com: States Should Rule on Medical Marijuana States Should Rule on Medical Marijuana Posted by CN Staff on February 13, 2003 at 11:03:50 PT Editorial Source: East Carolinian The bulldozer that has become the Bush administration when it comes to states' voter initiatives has rolled over a California man who was growing marijuana for Oakland's medical-marijuana program. Voters in California, Washington, Oregon and four other states, as well as the Hawaii Legislature, have been persuaded that marijuana use can help people suffering from AIDS, Lou Gehrig's disease and many other diseases. In 1999, a White House-commissioned study by the Institute of Medicine concluded marijuana did have medical benefits. Yet marijuana possession, manufacture and distribution remain against federal laws, no matter the intended use. Drug Enforcement Administration Director Asa Hutchinson is using California and Ed Rosenthal to make the point. On Jan. 31, a federal jury convicted Rosenthal on federal charges of marijuana cultivation and conspiracy. The judge refused to permit any evidence about Rosenthal's purpose, which is perfectly legal under California's Proposition 215, approved by voters in 1996. Instead, Rosenthal was depicted as a drug dealer with far from noble purposes. Dismayed once they learned the whole story, several jurors staged a press event, expressing outrage and saying they would have voted differently.Friday, Rosenthal accepted a plea agreement that could land him in jail for six months, far from the five-year minimum prison term he might have faced. Under the unusual agreement, Rosenthal keeps his right to appeal medical-marijuana prosecutions in federal court. U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., has proposed a surer remedy with his States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act, which would require federal law enforcement to defer to state laws. So far, the measure has 42 sponsors but has not moved out of committee. Republican Reps. Ron Paul of Texas and Dana Rohrabacher of California joined Frank at his July press conference to support the bill. In Washington, only Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Seattle, has signed on even though 59 percent of Washington voters approved this state's 1998 initiative. Regrettably, the cause of medical marijuana suffers from the association of groups that want to decriminalize all marijuana use. But none of the state laws do that. In fact, Oregon recently tightened its law when it was learned one doctor was writing the bulk of the prescriptions. The jurors who convicted Rosenthal are right to feel betrayed by the judge. The Bush administration's approach is wrong on this issue. And Frank's legislation should be embraced by all lawmakers who take the time to do their homework. Source: East Carolinian (NC Edu)Published: February 13, 2003Copyright: 2003 The East CarolinianContact: editor theeastcarolinian.comWebsite: http://www.theeastcarolinian.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Ed Rosenthal's Trial Pictures & Articleshttp://www.freedomtoexhale.com/trialpics.htmJuries Should Leave Lawmaking To The Lawmakers http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15465.shtmlTrust-Buster: Ashcroft Kicks The Dog Once Againhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15461.shtmlThe Conviction of Ed Rosenthal http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15456.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by The GCW on February 13, 2003 at 19:40:43 PT Mechoulam's work discredits U.S. government. Raphael Mechoulam, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and GW Pharmaceuticals are producing rapid-onset cannabinoid delivery systems using THC. That is proof positive that cannabis has enormous medical value and potential. Mechoulam's work proving that cannabis and THC have medical value discredits the U.S. government's Schedule I placement of cannabis, claiming cannabis has no medical value. http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/15/thread15347.shtml Everybody's High. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by afterburner on February 13, 2003 at 18:07:48 PT: A Surer Remedy U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., has proposed a surer remedy with his States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act, which would require federal law enforcement to defer to state laws. So far, the measure has 42 sponsors but has not moved out of committee.I missed this very important part of the article when first I read it. I encourage all voters to urge their U.S. Representatives to help get this bill out of committee and to vote for it.ego destruction or ego transcendence, that is the question. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on February 13, 2003 at 12:42:47 PT druid Bravo! and thank you! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by druid on February 13, 2003 at 12:40:11 PT My Comment to the East Carolinian States should rule on medical marijuana Posted 02/13/2003 "Friday, Rosenthal accepted a plea agreement that could land him in jail for six months, far from the five-year minimum prison term he might have faced. Under the unusual agreement, Rosenthal keeps his right to appeal medical-marijuana prosecutions in federal court. "This is wrong.It was Steve McWilliams who accepted the plea not Ed Rosenthal.The Seattle-times correction: Wednesday, February 12, 2003CorrectionMedical marijuana activist Steve McWilliams of San Diego pleaded guilty Friday to a felony charge of growing 25 plants in his yard. Ed Rosenthal, convicted on federal charges of growing medical marijuana, was mistakenly identified in a Tuesday editorial as the person who accepted the plea agreement.Copyright: 2003 The Seattle Times CompanyThe article about Steve McWilliams:http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15419.shtmlKeep up to date on Cannabis News: http://www.cannabisnews.coma_cannabis_connoisseur [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on February 13, 2003 at 12:38:09 PT druid I can't get the page to bring up your comment because it says java must be enabled and I never use it. Writers need to research topics before they write or we will get wrong information and that is a reflection on the paper or writer if one is named. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by druid on February 13, 2003 at 12:31:12 PT McWilliams Noticed that when I posted the article here:http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15465.shtml#2I also posted a comment on the actual news site about the how they were wrong.http://www.theeastcarolinian.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/02/13/3e4bd9c93c2e3#vfeedback [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on February 13, 2003 at 12:24:12 PT Just a Correction The writer didn't get the information correct. Steve McWilliams pleaded guilty but not Ed Rosenthal. McWilliams Pleads Guilty To Felony Pot Charge: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15419.shtml [ Post Comment ] Post Comment