cannabisnews.com: Verdict Clouds Pot Picture





Verdict Clouds Pot Picture
Posted by CN Staff on June 05, 2007 at 20:42:38 PT
By Sarah Acker
Source: San Francisco Bay Guardian
San Francisco -- Medical marijuana activist and author Ed Rosenthal was found guilty of three federal felonies related to the cultivation and distribution of marijuana May 30. He was found not guilty on one other charge, and a deadlocked jury prompted the prosecution to drop a fifth charge. Rosenthal will serve no jail time.In 2003, Rosenthal was convicted of related charges, but after a jury member learned that the marijuana Rosenthal cultivated was for medicinal purposes — evidence that had been suppressed from court testimony — she recanted her verdict, and a mistrial was declared.
Prosecuting attorney George Bevan chose to retry his case against Rosenthal, which, Rosenthal told the Guardian, was a "purely political" maneuver. The US district judge presiding in the case, Charles Breyer, dismissed nine other charges sought by Bevan, including tax evasion and money laundering, calling them "vindictive."Though Rosenthal has already served his jail time — just one day — he told us that the guilty verdict has larger implications for the medical marijuana movement. He fears the federal government will use this conviction as a green light to take ever more punitive actions against marijuana growers and users, particularly in states like California that have legalized pot for medical uses."If [the federal government] can convict in this case, where everything is so black-and-white, they can convict anywhere," Rosenthal said.Rosenthal had been deputized by the city of Oakland to provide medical marijuana, but he was barred from presenting evidence of his abiding by city and state law in court during both trials.Bevan declined to comment on his decision to retry the case or the larger implications of the result. Rosenthal vowed to appeal the verdict.Note: Marijuana activist fears his conviction will be used to punish other growers and users.Source: San Francisco Bay Guardian, The (CA)Author: Sarah AckerPublished: June 5, 2007Copyright: 2007 San Francisco Bay GuardianContact: letters sfbg.comWebsite: http://www.sfbg.com/Related Articles:Stop Snitchinghttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23039.shtmlGanja Guru' Re-Convictedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23018.shtmlFederal Jury Convicts Guru of Ganja http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23017.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by The GCW on June 06, 2007 at 20:23:08 PT
Sick Feds.
The Feds had trouble finding 12 jurors that would do their dirty deed, -now.In the next year some of those jurors may have family contract cancer etc. and perhaps die and it will hit them; what they have done will hit them in their heart and conscience. THEN, Next time the Feds will have an even harder time finding 12 jurors.And the next time they may not find anyone willing to cage any humans for simply wanting to help Our fellow family members or themselves.The Feds are sickening. Their sick party time is running out.
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Comment #2 posted by The GCW on June 06, 2007 at 20:12:04 PT
With vengeance and contempt
As more and more people are effected by cancer etc. and get relief from cannabis, this issue will become more and more known and citizens will welcome cannabis more and more.The Feds will get theirs. I don't see them screwing American humans for ever. When more Americans find out cannabis is the superplant & the Feds are harming their families by trying to exterminate the superplant they will not like what the Feds are doing.With vengeance and contempt.
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Comment #1 posted by afterburner on June 05, 2007 at 23:22:24 PT
OT: Harper & Bush
Feature: Battle Royal Looms as Canadian Government Set to Unveil Tough Anti-Drug Strategy,
stopthedrugwar.org , 
Issue #488, Jun 01, 2007
http://tinyurl.com/yvhodsCN ON: PUB LTE: U.S. Asset Forfeiture Plan Has No Place in Canada,
(Tue, 05 Jun 2007),
Windsor Star
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n683/a04.html Robert SharpeSome of Canada's media are saying that no opposition party agrees with the Conservative minority government's hard approach to drug policy. However, that the opposition parties will vote for the bill so as not to appear "soft on crime." Selling Canada by the looney! Stand up for science, compassion and human rights. Do not allow the Harper bullies to use failed political strategies to destroy Canada.
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