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US jury convicts marijuana 'guru' again

05-30-07|int'l herald tribune

Ed Rosenthal, the self-proclaimed marijuana "guru," 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.

The decision highlighted the growing tension between federal law and laws in 11 states that have legalized marijuana to some degree.

Rosenthal, 63, 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 marijuana club sanctioned by local government officials.

"We weren't allowed to give the jury valuable information it needed to make a fair and unbiased decision," said Rosenthal, founder of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

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.

However, he will not serve any time in prison.

That is because Rosenthal previously was convicted of the same charges in 2003 and sentenced to a day in prison because the judge said Rosenthal reasonably believed he was immune from prosecution by acting on behalf of Oakland city officials.

An appeals court tossed out that conviction because of juror misconduct. The judge, in an attempt to persuade federal prosecutors to drop the case, has said he would not sentence Rosenthal to any more prison time.

Federal prosecutor George Bevan declined to comment Wednesday.

Rosenthal has written books with titles such as "The Growers Handbook," "The Big Book of Buds" and "Ask Ed: Marijuana Law. Don't Get Busted."

 

stoneygreenbud

Our Govt. must really feel powerfull now.

now I know why I never liked going to the circus,


Stoney

reggie_the_dog

Well, for a government that is no longer concerned about Bin Laden (I think the presidents quote was "I don't even think about him anymore) we have to wonder why they still think about good old Ed.

Oh well, at least Ed will not plant any more of those suicide bombing cannabis plants.

castklearr

This is our justice system.....eliminating truth to get at the facade that the government projects! The facade that protects the truth about government patients....thats why the Supremes get to hear "no medical value". Thats why the government has patients??????? Supreme's you been lied too by your government.....they have patients yet there is "no medical value"??? I have to repeat that to make sure I heard it!

When the hell are they gonna take the judges directions shove them up there ass and get back to jury hearing everything then reaching a decision.....ITS CALLED "JURY RIGHTS"!

Folks we have lost our Judical System and the reason for having one.....truth!

Time to stop sending ur kids to law school.....try motorcycle repair school!