cannabisnews.com: U.S. Should Arrest Pain, Not People Who Relieve It U.S. Should Arrest Pain, Not People Who Relieve It Posted by CN Staff on February 19, 2003 at 08:13:40 PT Editorial Source: San Jose Mercury News Californians want marijuana available for use as a medication, but that won't happen until the federal government is forced to stop prosecuting individual residents who provide the drug to the sick and dying.Federal agents are rounding up those working at the behest of local government to provide the herb to victims of cancer, AIDs, and other debilitating diseases. The feds want to make a political statement about illicit drugs. The providers want to bring low-cost relief to those crippled by pain and robbed of appetite. Californians who have watched disease attack the bodies and spirits of loved ones care less about politics and more about treatment.That's why state voters enacted a law allowing marijuana to be distributed as a painkiller and hunger-stimulant for patients under a doctor's care.If federal authorities now want a fight, at least make it a fair fight.This month's conviction of Ed Rosenthal represents the third recent case of selective federal prosecution related to medical marijuana. In June, Rosenthal will be sentenced to prison -- up to four decades -- for dispensing marijuana as an agent of the City of Oakland.Rosenthal will pay a steep price, but so will the people he tried to help: Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, neighbors, friends -- people in real pain.Federal prosecutors are passing up hard-core drug dealers and addicts to hunt down people like Rosenthal. That's why San Jose's police chief took a stand last year and pulled out of a federal drug task force. Bill Lansdowne chooses to focus instead on the illegal drug-trade that causes violence, community decay and addicted youth.The Bush Administration, on the other hand, is circumventing California law by making sure these pot prosecutions take place in federal courts where the term medicinal marijuana has so far been banned -- as evidence and motive.The jury that convicted Rosenthal was not allowed to hear from his defense team as to why he grew marijuana, or who received it. After learning the facts, several jurors angrily denounced the justice system for turning them into puppets.Some things can be done.• Federal judges in states with medicinal marijuana laws should recognize the will of residents by using discretion and allowing the term ``medical marijuana'' and circumstances to be presented in court.• Juries should always be instructed about their constitutional right to nullify verdicts when the facts of a case are not disputed -- which happens with most medicinal marijuana cases -- and when they feel a law is being unjustly applied.• Finally, local governments, not individuals, should take on the role of dispensing this substance.Note: Medical Marijuana Providers Help The Sick and Dying.Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)Published: Wednesday, February 19, 2003Copyright: 2003 San Jose Mercury NewsContact: letters sjmercury.comWebsite: http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/Related Articles & Web Sites:Americans For Safe Accesshttp://www.safeaccessnow.orgEd Rosenthal's Trial Pictures & Articleshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/trialpics.htmMedical Marijuana Policy Change Urged http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15504.shtmlPot Activists Want DEA Out of Oakland Buildinghttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15503.shtmlWhen a Jury Should Just Say No http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15502.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by FoM on February 20, 2003 at 10:59:29 PT Nicholas Glad you all are doing fine now. I'm sorry to read about your daughters ear infection. I remember those days. You never forget them. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Nicholas Thimmesch on February 20, 2003 at 10:37:12 PT: Just fine FoM... ....everyone is in their places with bright shinny faces here at NORML now that you can WALK somewhere! The subways are jammed but the roads are okay: I was at home for four days with the baby (who had an ear infection) just watching it snow! Hope all is well with you and everyone out there in Cannabis News Land...... [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on February 20, 2003 at 08:42:35 PT Nicholas Thank you! That's good news. That is one of the papers that Map and CNews must snip but it's good to read. I was wondering how you weathered the weather in DC. We were snowed in a few days and finally got plowed out just in time for more on the way it seems! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Nicholas Thimmesch on February 20, 2003 at 08:20:18 PT: Speaking of justice.... ....how about this from Ohio: http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/summit/1045737151319701.xml http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/summit/104573715131970 [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by observer on February 19, 2003 at 15:51:52 PT Tepid Fully Informed Jury Support ''Juries should always be instructed about their constitutional right to nullify verdicts when the facts of a case are not disputed -- which happens with most medicinal marijuana cases -- and when they feel a law is being unjustly applied.''A bit buried, but better than nothing. Fully Informed Jury Association [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Truth on February 19, 2003 at 08:53:30 PT Safety If it were about safety, if it were about saving lives, the DEA would be out busting seven elevens for selling tobacco and alcohol, fore the two of them kill a half a million americans a year compared to ZERO cannabis deaths. It's not about safety, it's not about saving lives, it's about cultural genocide. Hitler held the title in the nineteen hundreds, looks like the DEA is going for the gold in the two thousands. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment