"Guru of Ganja" (Ed Rosenthal) convicted of marijuana cultivation

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 01/31/03 | DAVID KRAVETS

[MikalM]

A federal jury Friday found Ed Rosenthal, the author of how-to-grow books on marijuana and how to avoid the law, guilty of marijuana cultivation and conspiracy charges.

Deliberating for a day, the 12-member jury concluded that Rosenthal, the self described "Guru of Ganja," was growing more than 1,000 plants, conspiring to cultivate marijuana and maintaining a warehouse for a growing operation. He faces a maximum life term when sentenced June 4.

[coloradan]

Life in prison for someone with a green thumb, prevented by federal law from citing a state law that authorized his activities.

[HairOfTheDog]

The "Guru of Ganja" sign out front was probably a bad idea then. Or maybe the business cards tripped him up.

[Nouge]

Under strict orders from U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, Rosenthal was never able to tell the jury that he was growing marijuana as "an officer" for the city of Oakland's medical marijuana program.

Huh? That makes no sense to me. "Hey, You're not aloud to use your best defense because I say so" Wouldn't that just have been a fact in the case?

[Dane]

Oh sheesh, here come the kangaroo pictures from the Libertarians calling the court and jury "statists" all for following the law.

[Senator Pardek]

Under strict orders from U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, Rosenthal was never able to tell the jury that he was growing marijuana as "an officer" for the city of Oakland's medical marijuana program.

Sickening.

[exnavy]

Oh, well. One less libertine on the streets is not really a bad thing.

[Mr. Lucky]

...or maybe the nine bags of Doritos he ate during closing arguments.

[Dane]

Oakland's program and others throughout California were authorized under Proposition 215. Eight other states also allow the sick and dying to smoke or grow marijuana with a doctor's recommendation.

But federal authorities do not recognize those laws.

Best words I have ever seen of describing the marriage between the Greens and Libertarians.

[coloradan]

all for following the law.

"The law" is that you can't say some things at a federal trial, despite the First Amendment which prevents government censorship?

Please explain.

[coloradan]

But federal authorities do not recognize those laws.

Why don't you criticize the feds for "not recognizing" the laws like you criticize citizens for "not recognizing" laws? Are you in favor of a caste system that explicitly grants exemption to one class of people, federal agents, from having to comply with laws the rest of us must follow?

[HairOfTheDog]

HA!

[Dane]

"The law" is that you can't say some things at a federal trial, despite the First Amendment which prevents government censorship?

Please explain

Uh this a court of law and not a circus. The judge rightly, IMHO, did not tolerate Rosenthal's lawyer circus tactics and shut down any Johnny Cochran like theatrics.

Kudo's to the Judge for standing up against theatrics and actually following the law.

[Mr. Lucky]

OK, it's called the Supremacy Clause. The Oakland City Council can't pass an ordinance which would conflict with a federal statute on the same point.

[ActionNewsBill]

Best words I have ever seen of describing the marriage between the Greens and Libertarians.

Oakland's program and others throughout California were authorized under Proposition 215. Eight other states also allow the sick and dying to smoke or grow marijuana with a doctor's recommendation.

But federal authorities do not recognize those laws.

Best words I have ever seen that show fed.gov's blatant disregard for the tenth amendment, and their trampling of state's rights.

[headsonpikes]

And yours and the rest of your thug buddy's postings here represent the marriage of Reds and Authoritarians.

[Dane]

And yours and the rest of your thug buddy's postings here represent the marriage of Reds and Authoritarians.

You forgot to add the "nyah".

[Nouge]

Uh this a court of law and not a circus. The judge rightly, IMHO, did not tolerate Rosenthal's lawyer circus tactics and shut down any Johnny Cochran like theatrics.

I don't see where the circus comes into play here... If he was doing this for the city of Oakland and for medical purposes, then why should he not be aloud to mention that, isn't that the truth? Is it even legal to order him to whithold that information?

[headsonpikes]

Re: "Nyah"

In my opinion, it is unnecessary and possibly imprudent to stoop to your level.

[Kevin Curry]

There are so many worthwhile endeavors and callings in life this nitwit could have chosen. Stupidly, he chose to be high priest to a miserable weed.

What a waste.

What's the old saying? "Don't do the crime if you can't do the time."