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| Pot Activists Claim Innocence |
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Posted by FoM on March 05, 2002 at 16:42:05 PT By Dan Evans of The Examiner Staff Source: San Francisco Examiner 
Two Oakland medical marijuana activists claimed innocence to a daunting series of charges leveled at them Monday in San Francisco Federal Court. Edward Rosenthal, 57, and James Halloran, 61, were two of four people caught in a marijuana sweep last month by the Drug Enforcement Administration. DEA officials said more than 8,000 plants and smaller "clones" were seized during the raid -- which coincided with a speech being given that night by DEA Chief Asa Hutchinson. Halloran's attorney, Dennis Roberts, said the timing certainly looked suspicious. Hutchinson, for his part, has denied any nexus to the events, calling it a coincidence. "If I was going to speak about drugs, from what I see as the scofflaw capital of the world, I'd probably like to herald my arrival," said Roberts. One of the other men, Kenneth Hayes, was arrested in Vancouver, B.C. His attorney, Bill Panzer, said Hayes has petitioned the Canadian government for political refugee status. Hayes is the former executive director of the San Francisco pot club CHAMP. Panzer also is representing Rosenthal. Rosenthal is the author of several books on how to grow the wisdom weed, and wrote a column in "High Times" magazine for years answering questions on the process in a column called "Ask Ed." He is one of three men allegedly associated with the Harm Reduction Center, a medical marijuana club on Sixth Street in San Francisco. Halloran is accused, in a separate filing, of growing more than 1,000 marijuana plants in an Oakland warehouse. He faces a mandatory 20-year sentence if convicted of growing pot within 1,000 feet of a playground. U.S. Magistrate Joseph Spero warned Rosenthal that he faces a minimum prison sentence of 10 years if convicted of conspiring to grow more than 1,000 plants. Rosenthal also faces charges of personally growing more than 100 plants, which carries a five-year prison term, and providing a place for the cultivation, which has a 20-year possible sentence. Federal prosecutors are not talking about the case, citing a policy forbidding discussion of pending actions. But Roberts said his client was floored by the charges. Halloran, a hepatitis patient who uses marijuana for medical reasons, is scared. "You look at a document that says you're facing all these years, and you wet your pants," said the attorney. "It doesn't matter that your lawyer is trying to assure you that everything's going to be all right." Rosenthal is due back in court, before U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, March 20 for a trial date. Halloran was ordered to appear on March 19 before U.S. District Judge Saundra Armstrong in Oakland. Breyer, the brother of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Steven Breyer, had his ruling against the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative upheld by the Supreme Court last May. The court ruled 8-to-0 that there was no federal exception for marijuana based on the "medical necessity defense." Breyer recused himself because of his brother's involvement in the case. Halloran and Rosenthal are free on $500,000 bail. Source: San Francisco Examiner (CA) Related Articles & Web Site: DEA Raids Medical Marijuana Club King of Pot Books Pleads Innocent To Charges Indicted Rosenthal, Hayes, Watt, and Halloran Rosenthal Pot-Growing Icon Takes Raid in Stride Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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Comment #4 posted by Jose Melendez on March 05, 2002 at 18:26:59 PT:
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| WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The battle to protect patients from the Justice Department's ongoing war against medical marijuana gained momentum this week, with three respected members of the U.S. House of Representatives -- Reps. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Tom Lantos (D-CA), and John Conyers (D-MI) -- signing on as co-sponsors of H.R. 2592, the States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by FoM on March 05, 2002 at 18:03:54 PT |
| That's not at all off topic. I'll repost or post a new article tomorrow so no one that reads C News will miss it.
Thank You!
Is It A Crime? - 48 Hours [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by JSM on March 05, 2002 at 17:55:23 PT |
| 48 hours will be broadcasting interactive special on CBS at 10:00 est Wednesday, March 6th highlighting the mother giving marijuana to her child case. Please watch and take this opportunity to vote. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by FoM on March 05, 2002 at 17:20:57 PT |
| I received a mailer from the Marijuana Policy Project as I'm sure others do but for those that don't get the mailer they have an ad appearing in the New York Times on March 6th. I wish we could get The NYT's where we live but we can't. Thought I'd pass it on! [ Post Comment ] |
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