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Marijuana columnist goes on trial on charges of illegally growing pot (DOH! alert)
Yahoo News ^ | 1/21/03 | DAVID KRAVETS

Posted on 01/21/2003 4:28:02 PM PST by Libloather

Marijuana columnist goes on trial on charges of illegally growing pot
Tue Jan 21, 3:28 PM ET
By DAVID KRAVETS, Associated Press Writer

SAN FRANCISCO - An author of how-to books and columns on growing marijuana and evading the law went on trial Tuesday on federal charges of illegally cultivating pot.

The case against Ed Rosenthal represents the latest clash between federal agents and state and local authorities over the medical use of marijuana.

Rosenthal, a former columnist for the pro-marijuana magazine High Times, has said he was growing pot to help the sick, which is legal under California law. But marijuana is still illegal under federal law.

Prosecutor George Bevan told the jury that agents seized some 3,000 plants growing in Rosenthal's warehouse in Oakland.

"It's a federal offense," Bevan said.

Rosenthal, 58, could receive a life sentence if convicted.

California and seven other states — Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Oregon and Washington — allow the sick to receive, possess, grow or smoke marijuana for medical purposes without fear of state prosecution.

Nearly two years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court said it was a violation of federal drug laws for medical marijuana clubs to dispense pot.

Armed with that ruling, the government has raided several marijuana clubs and growing operations in California over the objection of marijuana advocates and local prosecutors and politicians.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Free Republic; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: columnist; growing; hightimes; illegal; marijuana; pot; saynottopot; trial; wodlist
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To: Cultural Jihad
Waaaaaaaaaa

LOL

61 posted on 01/22/2003 7:38:06 PM PST by thepitts
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To: thepitts
Ah, the battle cry of the Democratic Party. ;)
62 posted on 01/22/2003 7:45:50 PM PST by Cultural Jihad
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To: Mike4Freedom
Chances are, you'll grow up first--if your're fortunate.

Then again most pro-dopers are really sad cases of arrested adolescence, children in adult bodies accustomed to having their diapers changed and noses wiped by their superiors.

Party on, dude Party hearty. *snigger*

Boobs.

63 posted on 01/22/2003 8:06:48 PM PST by Kevin Curry
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To: Cultural Jihad
And Pardek is the resident Arthur Fonzarelli in this Doperville sitcom. Ayyyyyyyyy!
64 posted on 01/22/2003 8:12:37 PM PST by Kevin Curry
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To: Kevin Curry
Then again most pro-dopers are really sad cases of arrested adolescence,

Ad hominem attacks like this merely show that you have no real argument on your side. I accept your surrender on the War on Drugs.

65 posted on 01/22/2003 8:28:43 PM PST by Mike4Freedom
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To: Kevin Curry
Most potheads are a pain in the ass. So are alcoholics.

Spending $20 - 30,000 a year to lock up a fool for a PLANT is a waste of my tax dollars.

All of that cash would buy a lot resources to wipe out terrorists who hate the USA.

Bombs away!

66 posted on 01/22/2003 8:57:56 PM PST by eldoradude
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To: Dane
Non sequitur; there are ways of maintaining stigmas other than through criminal law.

Huh I guess you live in the world of legalese and not common sense

Opposite---it's you who seem unaware of all the nongovernmental societal structures within which stigmas are maintained.

67 posted on 01/23/2003 5:55:20 AM PST by MrLeRoy ("That government is best which governs least.")
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To: Monty22
the gateway 'theory' has been proven.

Opposite---it's been disproven: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/824600/posts.

68 posted on 01/23/2003 6:19:17 AM PST by MrLeRoy ("That government is best which governs least.")
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To: eleni121
The WOD is the most effective way that society employs to control, hinder, and prevent harm to its citizens.

Controlling, hindering, and preventing self-inflicted harm are not legitimate functions of government.

69 posted on 01/23/2003 6:21:20 AM PST by MrLeRoy ("That government is best which governs least.")
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To: MrLeRoy
Controlling, hindering, and preventing self-inflicted harm are not legitimate functions of government.

Absolutely.

A ray of hope -- a federal judge just threw out an idiotic class action suit against McDonalds, which claimed that it's McDonalds' fault that the plaintiffs' kids are fat. It would be nice to think that common sense like this will find its way into drug policy.

Stay tuned ...

70 posted on 01/23/2003 6:51:03 AM PST by bassmaner (Let's take back the word "liberal" from the commies!!)
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To: eleni121
The WOD is the most effective way that society employs to control, hinder, and prevent harm to its citizens.

So, in your world, prison rape of a citizen whose only "crime" is possession of a relatively harmless herb "prevents harm" to citizens?

Whew .... man, you're one scary dude ....

71 posted on 01/23/2003 6:53:17 AM PST by bassmaner (Let's take back the word "liberal" from the commies!!)
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To: Dane
first of all Dane, what I was saying is that if by getting Medical MJ available,
to sick people would further the chances of this stupid WoSD to end
the end justifies the means,
does not mean that people working for Medical MJ are useful idiots.
If that was the case then the same would apply to you and the Gov't propoganda you constantly preach.
72 posted on 01/23/2003 6:57:57 AM PST by vin-one (I wish i had something clever to put in this tag)
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To: Dane
Oh wow dude it is a "Bush" conspiracy now(9/11 and all that jazz), while your closet heros Clinton/Reno did nothing against your cause.

Come on, man, you've got to be kidding. Are you actually implying that I believe the Cynthia McKinney tinfoil hat horsehockey about Bush knowing about 9/11 in advance? Give me a break. The point of the 9/11 comment was to state that federal law enforcement priorities were seriously out of whack when they saw fit to bust medipot clinics only 6 weeks after the worst terrorist attack in our country's history. And as far as Klintoon is concerned, more Americans were busted for pot during his 8-year reign than all previous administrations combined, so (for that and a whole host of other reasons) I'm no fan of the Sinkmeister.

Oh BTW, have you seen the news, the newly elected Republican Governor of Maryland has said he will sign a medical marijuana bill that makes "sense"(and "sense" for this purpose doesn't mean the medical Libertarian "sense" of the "medicinal" use of smoking pot and saying "oh wow dude, gnarley" and then going down to the corner 7-11 and clearing out the Cheeto's shelf).

A step in the right direction, from a newly-elected Republican governor. And, BTW, does smoking a little weed and then "saying "oh wow dude, gnarley" and then going down to the corner 7-11 and clearing out the Cheeto's shelf" justify caging a "dude" with sociopathic homosexual rapists? Would you get some kind of sick pleasure watching the kid from the Dell computer commercials get butt-f##k#d by a lifer named Bubba? Don't say it can't happen -- it does, it's arbitrary and capricious, and it's just plain WRONG.

73 posted on 01/23/2003 7:50:00 AM PST by bassmaner (Let's take back the word "liberal" from the commies!!)
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To: Dane
Dane, you are incredible. In the sense that you have ZERO credibility. The ONLY way I could have been comparing you to the two named "worthies" is if you agree with the underlying premise that government should be the definer of our liberties. In THAT case, you would be saying that R. Kelly or David Westerfield should be allowed to define pedophilia. And that is a valid comparison. Now notice, Dame, I am NOT saying YOU are like these two. Please do NOT let it go to your head. You are NOT in their class.
74 posted on 01/23/2003 8:01:20 AM PST by dcwusmc ("The most dangerous man, to any government, is the man who is able to think things out for himself.")
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To: Cultural Jihad
The politest answer one can give the likes of you in a public forum. Not the answer you deserve.
75 posted on 01/23/2003 8:30:32 AM PST by dcwusmc ("The most dangerous man, to any government, is the man who is able to think things out for himself.")
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To: spodbox
Yes, inter-racial marriage WAS illegal in numerous places, as recently as the early '60s.
76 posted on 01/23/2003 8:31:37 AM PST by dcwusmc ("The most dangerous man, to any government, is the man who is able to think things out for himself.")
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To: MrLeRoy
I can't tell you how surprised I was to find you on this threat... {snicker}
77 posted on 01/23/2003 10:56:27 AM PST by That Subliminal Kid
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To: Stew Padasso; Admin Moderator
I think talking about how to cultivate an illegal drug is inappropriate for Free Republic. Take this garbage somewhere else.
78 posted on 01/23/2003 10:57:45 AM PST by That Subliminal Kid
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To: Stew Padasso
Yes, we get it Stew. You're one of millions of people who waste their time, money, and energy on marijuana. I feel sorry for you. We all do. Now stop wasting FR bandwidth posting silly photos of a plant. Nobody is impressed with your obession with drugs.
79 posted on 01/23/2003 10:59:21 AM PST by That Subliminal Kid
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To: That Subliminal Kid
I can't tell you how surprised I was to find you on this threat

Nor I you.

80 posted on 01/23/2003 11:00:29 AM PST by MrLeRoy ("That government is best which governs least.")
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