cannabisnews.com: Federal Judge Blinks: Ed Rosenthal Gets One Day! Federal Judge Blinks: Ed Rosenthal Gets One Day! Posted by CN Staff on June 04, 2003 at 13:30:32 PT By Alexander Cockburn Source: Counter Punch US District Judge Charles Breyer today sentenced Ed Rosenthal to one day in prison on each of three counts, stemming from his conviction earlier this year of supplying medical marijuana under license of the city of Oakland. Breyer also fined him $1,000 and then freed him.Rosenthal could have gone to prison for up to twenty years. His family and supporters went to US District Court in San Francisco this morning with a best case scenario that Rosenthal would get a medium term sentence and then be freed pending appeal. The one-day sentence was unexpected and shows the political effect of the popular uproar after Rosenthal's conviction and after six of the jurors publicly apologized to Rosenthal for voting for his conviction after Breyer had prevented them from hearing the full background of the case.As a member of the liberal elite (and brother of US Supreme Court Justice Steven Breyer) Charles Breyer had no particular appetite for intense public opprobrium. Having ensured Rosenthal's conviction he now walks him and hands the future of California's medical marijuana law to the US Ninth Circuit, which is already considering the issue.Breyer will now be applauded for magnanimity, but the federal onslaught on medical marijuana providers without the public reputation of Rosenthal continues. There are plenty of people in prison for far, far longer than a day.Rosenthal's appeal will presumably go forward, as part of the fight for states' rights and the legitimacy of California's prop 215, which legalized medical marijuana back in 1996. It's a huge relief for Rosenthal and his family, and CounterPunch is delighted he doesn't face a stretch in state prison, but we're only in the foothills of a long-term political struggle.Note: Liberal Elitist Says, We Can be Merciful, But Others Still Face Prison or Already Rot There.Source: Counter Punch (DC)Author: Alexander CockburnPublished: June 04, 2003Website: http://www.counterpunch.org/Contact: counterpunch counterpunch.orgDL: http://www.counterpunch.org/cockburn06042003.htmlRelated Articles & Web Site:Ed Rosenthal's Trial Pictures & Articleshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/trialpics.htmMarijuana Guru Ed Rosenthal Freed http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16521.shtmlMarijuana Guru Ed Rosenthal Faces Sentencing http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16520.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by FoM on June 05, 2003 at 08:32:09 PT I'm Confused I have never understood law very well and Bills often go right over my head. What Bill is what and what organizations are behind the different Bills? Which Bill will come up first and which one is the most important?PS: I understand Prop 215! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by kaptinemo on June 05, 2003 at 08:24:44 PT: Yes, it is indeed 'Show time' I imagine that the phone lines are burning up between DEA HQ, the Justice Departmemt, and Breyer's office. This has opened a HUGE can of worms, and you can count upon the Feds to be scrambling like mad to scoop them all back up. But it's too late; the worms are moving at Warp Factor 9 and the Feds can only move at two speeds: dead slow and dead.The spin doctors must be staying up at the White House late and popping those 'little white pills' we give fighter pilots to come up with some way to make a defeat look like a victory. (They are already delusional, so it's too late to warn them of the side effects of what those 'good' speed pills do.)The time to support H.R. 1717, The Truth in Trials Act, is RIGHT NOW. Call your Congresscritters and Sin-a-tors and tell them this is their window of opportunity. They can either come down on the side of the people, or they can ruminate in their retirement about how they SHOULD have. Because, to paraphrase the immortal words of fictional TV anchorman Howard Beale from the movie NETWORK, "We're mad as Hell, and not gonna take this anymore!" [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by freedom fighter on June 04, 2003 at 17:55:16 PT ShowTime People!!!!!!!! Looks like there was a Rosenthal Shootout and the fed came out looking very foolish!!What would other countries think of the America now?ONE DAYpaceff [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on June 04, 2003 at 14:42:04 PT E-Mail from Steve Kubby Dear Friends,I spoke today with Ed's wife Jane, via cell phone, as Ed was being processed and released from Federal court. Jane said they were mobbed by supporters, photographers and newscrews when they first arrived. Steph Sherer had rented a parking lot across the street and it was filled with supporters and media.Jane said a key moment was when Ed announced to everyone, "These laws are doomed."Ed was found guilty on three counts and sentenced to one day in jail, with credit for time served. Ed still must comply with 3 years searchable probation and avoid any controlled substances, but all this will soon be appealed.I told Jane that all of us are proud of the courage and integrity with which Ed and Jane have conducted themselves and that millions of people have been affected and educated by their story.Jane said she and Ed are looking forward to visiting Vancouver and celebrating their victory.Let freedom grow,Steve [ Post Comment ] Post Comment