cannabisnews.com: Federal Jury Convicts Guru of Ganja on Pot Charges Federal Jury Convicts Guru of Ganja on Pot Charges Posted by CN Staff on May 30, 2007 at 14:40:42 PT By Paul Elias, The Associated Press Source: Associated Press San Francisco, CA -- Ed Rosenthal, the self-proclaimed "guru of ganja," was convicted again Wednesday in federal court of illegally growing hundreds of marijuana plants that he said were meant to treat sick people, which state law allows.Rosenthal was convicted of three cultivation and conspiracy charges after U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer prohibited the marijuana activist's lawyers from telling the jury Rosenthal was working for a pot club sanctioned by Oakland government officials. The decision underscored the tension between federal law and laws in 11 states that have legalized pot to some degree. "We weren't allowed to give the jury valuable information it needed to make a fair and unbiased decision," Rosenthal said outside court after the verdict was read. He was convicted on three felony charges and acquitted of one. The jury couldn't decide a fifth charge.Federal prosecutor George Bevan declined comment after the verdict was read.The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that marijuana is an illegal drug and federal law trumps state laws, which left Rosenthal without much of a defense. The jury deliberated for about two days before convicting Rosenthal of growing more than 100 marijuana plants, conspiring to cultivate the drug and maintaining a growing operation in a warehouse, but the 63-year-old won't serve any time in prison.That's because Rosenthal was previously convicted of the same charges in 2003 and sentenced to a day in prison because the judge said that Rosenthal reasonably believed he was immune from prosecution because he was acting on behalf of Oakland city officials.An appeals court tossed out that conviction because of juror misconduct. The judge, in a fruitless attempt to persuade federal prosecutors to drop the case, has said he would not sentence Rosenthal to any more prison time.Source: Associated Press (Wire)Author: Paul Elias, The Associated Press Published: May 30, 2007 Copyright: 2007 Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site:Ed Rosenthal's Pictures & Articles http://freedomtoexhale.com/trialpics.htmPot Advocate Convicted on Three Charges http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23016.shtml`Ganja Guru' Case Goes To Juryhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23013.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by Dr Ganj on May 30, 2007 at 19:45:20 PT Down Syndrome Evidently the 12 jurors were comprised of retards afflicted with cretinism, and Down Syndrome. Their deficient brains, with the obvious extra genes (trisomy), must be the reason for their verdict. Once Mr. Rosenthal shows the appellate court the jurors were of primate intelligence, and were easily confused by the prosecutor's definition of the word "banana", I feel this truly unjust verdict will be overturned. Now, considering how expedient our appellate court process is in this wonderful country, Mr. Rosenthal won't have to wait too long before the proper verdict is rendered. And that of course is: "Ed, you are not guilty, and we all truly appreciate your efforts in cannabis horticulture, your fine books, and showing the world all the benefits of this magnificent plant." http://www.ds-health.com/trisomy.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by mayan on May 30, 2007 at 17:23:59 PT Stacked Jury? At the very least it was an extremely stupid jury.In unrelated events, here's some info on the latest "Al-Qaeda" tape...Mossad Agent Pearlman Releases Phony "Al-Qaeda Tape": http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/may2007/300507phonytape.htmTHE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...WNBC catches Giuliani getting 'tripped up' by 9/11 activist: http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Video_tribute_to_Giuliani_911_lies_0530.htmlDonald Rumsfeld on 9/11: An enemy within: http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_2026.shtmlFox suggests Rosie fired over 'leaked' video of 9/11 talk - 9/11 activist slams 'absurdity' of Fox report: http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Fox_suggests_Rosie_fired_over_leaked_0529.htmlArchitects & Engineers for 911Truth Petition: TO THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND OF THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=2007053093857985Kerosene Fire Can't Melt Steel! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKYQ8Z6YFU09/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB - OUR NATION IS IN PERIL: http://www.911sharethetruth.com/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 30, 2007 at 16:36:05 PT 'Ganja Guru' Convicted in San Francisco Retrial May 31, 2007 SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - After fighting for years to clear his name, a prominent marijuana advocate known as the "ganja guru" was convicted again on Wednesday on charges of cultivating and distributing the weed.Ed Rosenthal, 62, author of "Why Marijuana Should Be Legal" and other books, was originally convicted on marijuana charges in 2003 by a federal jury and sentenced him to a day in jail.The conviction was later overturned on appeal and a new trial ordered. When prosecutors renewed the case last year, they added tax evasion and money laundering charges.U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer ruled in March that prosecutors had added those charges vindictively and dismissed them, but would not grant Rosenthal's request to dismiss the original charges.The new jury found Rosenthal guilty on three charges of cultivating and distributing marijuana. He cannot receive any additional jail time under the verdict."If the jury had heard the whole truth, they would have acquitted me on all charges," Rosenthal said in a statement. "These laws are doomed. Science and compassion will win out over politics and superstition."Rosenthal was the first prominent marijuana activist tried by federal prosecutors for growing and providing marijuana for medical purposes after California voters in 1996 approved such use. The California law is in opposition to federal law, which trumps state law. Copyright: 2007 Reuters http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN3046255020070530 [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 30, 2007 at 15:28:18 PT Expanded Associated Press Article Federal Jury Convicts 'Guru of Ganja'***Paul Elias, The Associated Press May 30, 2007San Francisco, CA -- The self-proclaimed "guru of ganja" was convicted again Wednesday in federal court of illegally growing hundreds of marijuana plants that he said were meant to treat sick people, which state law allows.Ed Rosenthal was convicted after U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer prohibited the marijuana activist's lawyers from telling the jury he was working for a pot club sanctioned by Oakland government officials. The decision underscored the tension between federal law, which prohibits marijuana, and laws in 11 states that have legalized pot for medical purposes."We weren't allowed to give the jury valuable information it needed to make a fair and unbiased decision," Rosenthal said.The jury deliberated for about two days before convicting Rosenthal of growing more than 100 marijuana plants, conspiring to cultivate the drug and maintaining a growing operation in a warehouse. He was acquitted of a fourth charge, and the jury couldn't decide on the fifth.But the 63-year-old won't serve any time in prison. That's because he was convicted of the same charges in 2003 and sentenced to a day in prison because the judge said that Rosenthal reasonably believed he was immune from prosecution because he was acting on behalf of Oakland city officials.An appeals court tossed out that conviction because of juror misconduct. The judge, in a fruitless attempt to persuade federal prosecutors to drop the case, has said he would not sentence Rosenthal to any more prison time.The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that marijuana is an illegal drug and that federal law trumps state laws, which left Rosenthal without much of a defense.Federal prosecutor George Bevan declined to comment after the verdict was read Wednesday.A founder of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, Rosenthal once wrote the "Ask Ed" column for "High Times" magazine. He has written books with titles such as "The Growers Handbook," "The Big Book of Buds" and "Ask Ed: Marijuana Law. Don't Get Busted."Copyright: 2007 Associated Press http://www.star-telegram.com/462/story/120018.html [ Post Comment ] Post Comment