cannabisnews.com: California's 'Guru of Ganja' Freed California's 'Guru of Ganja' Freed Posted by CN Staff on June 04, 2003 at 14:56:00 PT BBC News Report Source: BBC News A man who describes himself as the "Guru of Ganja" has walked free from a federal court in San Francisco after being convicted of growing marijuana. Ed Rosenthal, who said the drug was for medical purposes, could have received 60 years behind bars. Instead, the judge sentenced the 58-year-old to one day in prison - and then set him free after declaring he had already served that time. The case represented the latest clash between state and federal authorities over the medical use of marijuana. The federal government does not recognise medical marijuana laws in the nine US states, including California, that have them. Rosenthal was also fined $1,000 and will be on supervised release for three years. Federal prosecutors had asked for a six-and-a-half-year prison term. Wednesday's judgement was met by cheering and applause in the courtroom. "I take responsibility for my actions that bring me here today," Rosenthal said following the decision. "I took these actions because my conscience led me to help people who are suffering. These laws are doomed." 'State's marijuana agent' In February, a jury convicted Rosenthal on charges of growing marijuana. Part of the prosecution's case was that he had maintained a warehouse in Oakland as part of his marijuana growing operation. Rosenthal said he was acting as an agent for Oakland's medical marijuana programme, part of a 1996 medical marijuana initiative approved by California's voters. However, jurors were not allowed to hear those arguments. Several of them later said that they would have acquitted Rosenthal had they known. Keith Stroup of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws welcomed the judge's decision. "I think it's a marvellous victory for states' rights and the medical use of marijuana," he said. "It sends a strong signal to the federal government that they should reconsider their current programme of arresting patients and caregivers in California." Source: BBC News (UK Web) Published: Wednesday, June 04, 2003Copyright: 2003 BBC Contact: newsonline bbc.co.ukWebsite: http://news.bbc.co.uk/ Related Articles & Web Sites:NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/Ed Rosenthal's Trial Pictures & Articleshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/trialpics.htmMarijuana Guru Told He Will Not Go To Prisonhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16524.shtmlMedical Pot Guru Won’t Go To Joint http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16523.shtmlMarijuana Guru Ed Rosenthal Freed http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16521.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #14 posted by FoM on June 04, 2003 at 23:11:33 PT Hope It is really nice to see you. I hope all is well. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by FoM on June 04, 2003 at 23:03:36 PT 312 I'm really glad you like CNews. Today has been a good day. Sometimes we don't have good news for a long time and in the states it has been very bad. I'm just happy for the moment. We have a little brighter light at least for now and that's just so good. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Hope on June 04, 2003 at 23:02:54 PT Rev. Jonathan Adler I cared, too. I guess I didn't do anything beyond praying, grieving, worrying, thinking about you, complaining, and writing, but I did care...very much. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by 312 on June 04, 2003 at 22:46:22 PT Mapinc. Sorry I never visit Mapinc. I spend too much time reading Cnews while I'm supposed to be working to start looking at another website. I usually check uk420.com first to see what they have posted, then straight here to read the comments.I just saw it by accident and thought it was short enough to post as a comment, for general interest.Keep up the good work with Cnews. It really lifts my day and I look forward to reading it every (workday) morning. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on June 04, 2003 at 21:23:41 PT 312 Did you hawk this article to Mapinc.? They cover a really broad base of news and they would probably get it posted for you. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by 312 on June 04, 2003 at 20:53:45 PT Also on BBC news website 04/06/03 (or 06/04/03 US) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2962636.stmDrug tests in Philippine schoolsCaption: Marijuana is one of the most common drugs taken by studentsSchool children in the Philippines may soon have to undergo random drug tests, as part of the government's campaign to stamp out illegal drug use. The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, which was passed in July 2002, also requires mandatory testing for law enforcement operatives and employees of government agencies. Interior and Local Government Secretary Joey Lina told the BBC's World Today programme that pupils in both high schools and tertiary schools - in other words, all pupils aged 12 or above - could be subject to testing from the beginning of next term. He said that while "the law does not require parents to consent," they would nevertheless be notified before any testing took place. He said that the most common drugs taken by students were marijuana and methamphetamine hydrochloride, known locally as "shabu". Mr Lina insisted that the Manila Government was succeeding in its fight against drugs, but said the testing was needed to ensure the "momentum is maintained". The law applies to both private and public school children, but the project would be paid for by the government, Mr Lina said. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on June 04, 2003 at 17:28:49 PT Thanks Dr. Russo I have CBS on now from the west coast and they just mentioned Ed. I'm going to watch it. Thanks again. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on June 04, 2003 at 16:55:54 PT Rev Jonathan Adler I cared. I thought of you often. I'm so sorry for what happened to you. I know words don't mean much but I do mean what I say. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by boballen1313 on June 04, 2003 at 16:49:22 PT: Judge Breyer going to "pay" Judge Breyer is resigning from the bushitler regime? God Bless this man! But the Bushitler regime will punish him. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Rev Jonathan Adler on June 04, 2003 at 16:48:16 PT: Good News and Bad. The good news is Ed dosn't go to prison. The bad news is I had a similar case where a jury would not convict me, but a Judge decided to do so anyway. Also regarding sentencing in my case, a "stay" pending appeal was denied and one year, six months actual jail time was spent by me for the cause. Did any one notice or care? I am now free pending appeal at our State Supreme Court. Jail was no fun, but I did what was required to survive. Awaiting the next move on the chess board of life. Peace and Aloha, Rev. Jonathan Adler. Box 742 Hilo, Hi. 96721 Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Ethan Russo MD on June 04, 2003 at 16:13:31 PT: CBS Evening News Had a clip. Short, but there! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on June 04, 2003 at 16:04:57 PT NORML Statement on Ed Rosenthal Sentence Federal Judge Rejects Government's Anti-Medicinal Pot StanceSentences Noted Marijuana Cultivator To One Day In Prison For Medical Marijuana Grow Operation San Francisco, CA: A federal judge today sentenced noted marijuana author and cultivation expert Ed Rosenthal to one day in prison with credit for time served. Rosenthal could have faced as many as 60 years in prison after being convicted in January on three counts related to marijuana cultivation. Rosenthal grew marijuana to supply local patients who use it in accordance with state law."This verdict is a marvelous victory for Ed Rosenthal, states' rights, and for the medical use of marijuana," NORML Executive Director Keith Stroup said. "It should send a strong message to the Bush Administration to stop wasting federal resources arresting and prosecuting medicinal marijuana patients and their caregivers, and to focus their efforts on serious crime especially anti-terrorism efforts."Rosenthal maintained he had been deputized by the City of Oakland to supply pot to local cooperatives that dispense it to state-qualified patients. His trial gained international attention when jurors publicly recanted their guilty verdict, and announced that they would have acquitted Rosenthal had the judge allowed him to explain that he was legally authorized to grow medical marijuana under state law. During Rosenthal's trial, District Judge Charles Breyer forbade any testimony pertaining to medical cannabis or California's Prop. 215 because federal law doesn't acknowledge that pot has medical value. "The purpose for which the marijuana was grown is not a defense and is irrelevant," Breyer ruled during the trial. Jurors maintained that they were unaware of the context of Rosenthal's activities until after the trial, at which time they spoke out against their decision claiming they were "misled" by government prosecutors.The prosecution of Rosenthal by the federal Justice Department is indicative of the Bush Administration's crackdown on the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Since the Administration took office, federal drug enforcement officials have acted against more than 35 medicinal marijuana patients, cooperatives and providers in California alone. (California is one of eight states since 1996 that have legalized the use and cultivation of medical marijuana under state law.) In addition, pending Congressional legislation (H.R. 2086) contains language (Sec. 707) allowing the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to reallocate as much as $60.5 million in federal funds from the "High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program" to target and prosecute medicinal marijuana patients and their providers in states where the use of physician-approved pot is legal. A separate provision in the bill would allow the ONDCP to use taxpayer dollars to potentially fund partisan advertisements targeting proposed state initiatives or laws seeking to legalize the medical use of marijuana."The Bush Administration, especially Attorney General John Ashcroft and Drug Czar John Walters, are extreme anti-marijuana zealots who are out of touch with the American public 80 percent of whom approve of the medical use of marijuana," Stroup said. "It's time for the Administration to respect the will of the voters, and stop needlessly targeting medicinal marijuana patients and their providers. It is unconscionable to continue to deny an effective medication to those seriously ill patients who need it and have a legal right to use it under state law."Nicholas Thimmesch II -- Communications Director NORML [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by afterburner on June 04, 2003 at 15:52:23 PT: Ed's News Plays in Canada Too 'Guru of Ganja' gets one day sentence: Federal judge's decision seen as slap at U.S. marijuana laws 4:24 PM | FULL STORY http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030604.wdope604/BNStory/International/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by global_warming on June 04, 2003 at 15:45:37 PT: Don't Break Out The Champagne I am shocked and dismayed, can't figure this one out?...Keith Stroup of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws welcomed the judge's decision. "I think it's a marvellous victory for states' rights and the medical use of marijuana," he said...I do NOT trust these people, the pheds, they are up to something,..?I am happy that Mr. Rosenthal is not in a cage, yet I feel that nothing has changed.The pheds have a strategy that we have not yet seen or understood, they have not changed anything, they let one man go free, minus $1300,.. +probation, which = continued "PROHIBITION",..I once thought that the recent focused effort on marijuana of the government, was directed towards government's efforts to ultimately legalise this plant, with such focused enforcement, the people would start to rebel against the unfair laws...This story suggests that this scenerio may be real, but I cannot imagine the opposition, the pharmaco-prison system-law enforcement-and the lawyers, would allow such a cash cow as the "prohibition of "ILLEGAL" Drugs" to slip away..This is not about easing pain, this is about a judicial system that has gotten so large, so hungry, that it fuels the laws that government seeks to enforce.I do not trust them, they are clever vipers, that sit comfortably in their glades.I wonder, how much green has exchanged hands in this Rosenthal matter?Remember, if you dont have the cash, they will bash, your head...Peace,.. I shall not be happy until I can grow the the plant in my little garden, next to my oregano and sweet basil.. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment