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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
medical 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 Acker
Published: June 5, 2007
Copyright: 2007 San Francisco Bay Guardian
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://www.sfbg.com/
Related Articles:
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http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23039.shtml
Ganja Guru' Re-Convicted
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23018.shtml
Federal Jury Convicts Guru of Ganja
Posted by CN Staff on June 05, 2007 at 20:42:38 PT
By Sarah Acker
Source: San Francisco Bay Guardian
medical 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 Acker
Published: June 5, 2007
Copyright: 2007 San Francisco Bay Guardian
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://www.sfbg.com/
Related Articles:
Stop Snitching
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23039.shtml
Ganja Guru' Re-Convicted
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23018.shtml
Federal Jury Convicts Guru of Ganja