cannabisnews.com: Pot Advocate Convicted on Three Charges 





Pot Advocate Convicted on Three Charges 
Posted by CN Staff on May 30, 2007 at 14:32:39 PT
By Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer
Source: San Francisco Chronicle 
San Francisco, CA -- -- Marijuana advocate Ed Rosenthal was convicted for a second time today of violating federal drug laws by growing pot plants for medical patients, but he faces no punishment for the felony convictions, apart from the one day in jail that he has already served. Rosenthal, 62, of Oakland, a well-known authority on cannabis cultivation, former columnist for High Times magazine and author of a recent book calling for legalization of marijuana, was convicted by a federal jury in San Francisco of three charges of illegal cultivation and conspiracy after a day of deliberations. He was acquitted of a fourth charge, and the jury deadlocked on a fifth charge.
A separate jury had convicted Rosenthal of similar charges in 2003, but the verdict was overturned by an appeals court because of misconduct by a juror who called a lawyer for advice during deliberations. The charges normally carry a sentence of at least five years in prison, but U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer imposed only a one-day sentence, saying Rosenthal had believed he was acting legally because Oakland had designated him as its agent in the city's medical marijuana program. Federal prosecutors tried to add charges of money-laundering and tax evasion for the retrial, but Breyer refused, saying the government was retaliating for Rosenthal's criticism of the case and his successful appeal. Prosecutors proceeded with the second trial, rejecting the judge's suggestion that they drop the case, but conceded that they could not seek additional punishment for Rosenthal. Rosenthal was arrested in February 2002 after federal agents seized more than 3,700 marijuana plants at an Oakland warehouse. He was charged with growing marijuana for distribution by a number of medical marijuana dispensaries in the Bay Area.  Snipped:Complete Article: http://tinyurl.com/29dyohSource: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)Author: Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff WriterPublished: Wednesday, May 30, 2007Copyright: 2007 Hearst Communications Inc.Contact: letters sfchronicle.comWebsite: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/Related Articles & Web Site:Ed Rosenthal's Pictures & Articles http://freedomtoexhale.com/trialpics.htm `Ganja Guru' Case Goes To Juryhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23013.shtmlRe-Trial of `Ganja Guru' Begins http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22974.shtml
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 31, 2007 at 07:59:40 PT
SFC: Medical Marijuana Advocate Convicted
Though guilty again, no jail for RosenthalBob Egelko, Chronicle Staff WriterThursday, May 31, 2007 Ed Rosenthal was a free man, but not a happy one, after a jury convicted him Wednesday for a second time of violating federal drug laws by growing marijuana for medical patients. Rosenthal, 62, of Oakland -- an authority on cannabis cultivation, former columnist for High Times magazine and longtime advocate of legalizing marijuana -- was fuming that the same federal judge who declined to imprison him had also refused to let him argue to jurors that his purpose was healing people, not dealing drugs. "Once again, the jury was not allowed to hear valuable information it needed to make an unbiased and fair decision,'' Rosenthal said outside court after he was convicted of three felony charges. After the jurors learn that they were "compelled to make an immoral decision,'' he said, they will regret the verdict for the rest of their lives. Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/31/BAGHHQ4EQ41.DTL
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Comment #1 posted by observer on May 30, 2007 at 14:43:13 PT
no juror comments?
Is the press being kept from the jurors unlike last time? After hoodwinking the jurors in another kangaroo-court show trial, you can bet the corrupted US government lackeys that ran this circus don't want you to see how surprised and sorrowful the jurors are when they hear all the medical facts about the case. But maybe it is still too early. 
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