cannabisnews.com: Calif.'s Lockyer Urges Leniency in Marijuana Case





Calif.'s Lockyer Urges Leniency in Marijuana Case
Posted by CN Staff on May 28, 2003 at 13:47:53 PT
By Reuters
Source: Reuters 
San Francisco - California's attorney general has urged a judge to show leniency when he sentences marijuana guru Ed Rosenthal, who was convicted of federal drug charges even though the state deems his actions legal.Attorney General Bill Lockyer asked U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer to consider that the jury was not allowed to hear evidence the prominent marijuana advocate cultivated the drug under a program approved by California voters.
Many of the jurors said after the trial they would not have voted to convict Rosenthal had they known he was authorized to grow the drug under the city of Oakland's medicinal marijuana program."Under these circumstances of Mr. Rosenthal's trial, and the conflict between California and federal law governing the legality of possessing marijuana for medicinal purposes, I urge you to impose the minimum sentence allowed under the federal sentencing guidelines," Lockyer said in the letter sent Tuesday.Rosenthal, 58, is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4 on three counts of growing marijuana. A probation officer has recommended a sentence of 21 months but Rosenthal could potentially get 60 years in prison, his lawyer Robert Eye said on Wednesday.The Rosenthal case also highlights the battle over medical marijuana between the nation's most populous state and the federal government, which has recently been cracking down on California clubs providing the drug to ill patients.California is one of nine states where residents have voted to allow patients suffering from illnesses ranging from cancer to glaucoma to use the drug proponents say can help alleviate symptoms such as pain and nausea. Medicinal marijuana is illegal under federal law.Some 40 California residents face federal prison terms even after state authorities determined that they had complied with California's medical marijuana law. Currently, Rosenthal, the author of the "Marijuana Grower's Handbook" is free on bail as his lawyers appeal the February verdict.Robert Eye, Rosenthal's trial lawyer, added while he does not believe the judge will give his client the most severe sentence, the letter from California's attorney general could make a difference in determining how long Rosenthal may have to spend in prison."Somebody of Lockyer's stature is obviously going to carry a fair amount of weight," Eye said. Source: Reuters Published: May 28, 2003 Copyright: 2003 Reuters News ServiceWebsite: http://www.reuters.comContact: http://about.reuters.com/custhelp/Related Articles & Web Site:Ed Rosenthal's Trial Pictures & Articleshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/trialpics.htmLockyear Urges Leniency for Pot `Guru'http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16415.shtmlNew Trial Request Denied http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16390.shtmlGanja Guru -- If Only Truth Could Set Him Freehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16354.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on May 28, 2003 at 19:23:34 PT
Thank You Dan!
Thanks for posting the article. That is one way of looking at this whole big picture we call the drug war.
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Comment #2 posted by Dan B on May 28, 2003 at 16:53:49 PT:
Link To Excellent Article 
Today's Progressive Review has an excellent article titled "Why Do We Have The War On Drugs Anyway?" Here is a link to the article:http://prorev.com/indexa.htmScroll down past the Darth Vader/SARS picture on that page. Sam Smith--creator, editor and writer for Progressive Review--wrote this particular article, and it is quite insightful.Dan B
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Comment #1 posted by druid on May 28, 2003 at 14:33:05 PT
Grassroots Activists needed
ASA is working with MPP on this grassroots lobbying project. If you are able to participate, please get in touch with us. Thank You! Hilary McQuie
 
======================================================================Please distribute this memo widely. Forward to family and friends who live in any of the eight states listed below.======================================================================TO:   MPP subscribers in the medical marijuana states*FROM:  Alexis Baden-Mayer, MPP national field directorDATE:  Wednesday, May 28, 2003SUBJECT: Grassroots activity needed to get federal medical marijuana
     legislation passed!======================================================================Wednesday, June 4, 2003, Ed Rosenthal will be sentenced in federal
court for the crime of growing marijuana for sick and dying patients.
Rosenthal had been acting in accordance with "Prop. 215," California's
Compassionate Use Act, and with the express consent of the City of
Oakland.On the day of Rosenthal's sentencing, hundreds of medical marijuana
supporters across the country will be going to the home-state offices
of their U.S. representatives to demand that Congress pass federal
legislation that would keep law-abiding citizens like Ed Rosenthal out
of federal prison.Please help us with our grassroots lobbying campaign. Reply to this
e-mail or call me at 202-462-5747, ext. 114, today to learn what the
Marijuana Policy Project is doing in your congressional district to
push your federal legislator to sponsor federal medical marijuana
legislation.Please look below to see if your U.S. representative is on our target
list of federal legislators who have failed to support their states'
medical marijuana laws. If you don't know who represents you in
Congress, please take a moment to find out by entering your zip code
at http://www.congress.org .Thank you in advance for taking action in support of medical marijuana
patients and providers in your state.======================================================================  U.S. Representatives Who Have Failed To Support Their States'
         Medical Marijuana Laws in Congress:ALASKADon Young (R-At Large)CALIFORNIAJoe Baca (D-42)Xavier Becerra (D-30)Mary Bono (R-45)Kevin Calvert (R-44)Dennis Cardoza (D-18)Christopher Cox (R-48)Duke Cunningham (R-50)Susan Davis (D-53)Calvin Dooley (D-20)John Doolittle (R-04)David Dreier (R-26)Elton Gallegly (R-24)Jane Harman (D-36)Wally Herger (R-02)Duncan Hunter (R-52)Darrell Issa (R-49)Jerry Lewis (R-41)Robert Matsui (D-05)Buck McKeon (R-25)Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-37)Gary Miller (R-42)Grace Napolitano (D-38)Devin Nunes (R-21)Doug Ose (R-03)Richard Pombo (R-11)George Radanovich (R-19)Ed Royce (R-40)Loretta Sanchez (D-47)Bill Thomas (R-22)COLORADOBob Beauprez (R-07)Diana DeGette (D-01)Joel Hefley (R-05)Scott McInnis (R-03)Marilyn Musgrave (R-04)Thomas Tancredo (R-06)HAWAI`INeil Abercrombie (D-01)MAINEThomas Allen (D-01)Mike Michaud (D-02)NEVADAJim Gibbons (R-02)Jon Porter, Sr. (R-03)OREGONDarlene Hooley (D-05)Greg Walden (R-02)David Wu (D-01)WASHINGTONBrian Baird (D-03)Norman Dicks (D-06)Jennifer Dunn (R-08)Doc Hastings (R-04)Jay Inslee (D-01)Rick Larsen (D-02)George Nethercutt (R-05)Adam Smith (D-09)======================================================================Hilary McQuieCampaign CoordinatorAmericans for Safe Access1678 Shattuck Ave. #317Berkeley, CA 94709Phone: 510-486-8083Fax: 510-486-8090www.safeaccessnow.org
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