cannabisnews.com: Feds Take Aim at `Ganja Guru' Again





Feds Take Aim at `Ganja Guru' Again
Posted by CN Staff on August 30, 2006 at 18:35:50 PT
By Josh Richman, Staff Writer
Source: San Mateo County Times
San Francisco -- Federal prosecutors not only are preparing to re-try Oakland "Guru of Ganja" Ed Rosenthal, but seem to be searching for more charges to file against him.Rosenthal, 61, was in federal court Wednesday for the first time since his 2003 convictions were overturned earlier this year. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ordered him to return Sept. 13, when he and attorneys will try to set a trial date.
"The government might want to take a hard look at this case, is my suggestion," said Breyer as the brief status hearing ended.Outside, Rosenthal's attorney, William Simpich of Oakland, said he took that parting comment to mean the judge believes "this case should be terminated."But William Dolphin, a spokesman for the Oakland-based medical marijuana advocacy group Americans for Safe Access, said Wednesday at least two witnesses appeared under subpoena last Thursday before a federal grand jury in San Francisco that's probing Rosenthal's activities over a wider range of time than the original case included — possibly a prelude to new charges.Those two people, who for now wish to remain anonymous, both invoked their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination, Dolphin said. They're to appear before the grand jury again Thursday, perhaps to be offered immunity from prosecution in exchange for their testimony; this could leave them to choose between testifying or being jailed for civil contempt of court.Famed for his marijuana cultivation books and the "Ask Ed" column he wrote for High Times magazine, Rosenthal was convicted of three marijuana-growing felonies in 2003, more than a year after federal agents raided sites including his Oakland home, an Oakland warehouse in which he was growing marijuana, and a San Francisco medical marijuana club he supplied. Medical use of marijuana on a doctor's recommendation is legal under state law but prohibited by federal law, so Rosenthal was barred from mounting a medical defense at trial. Breyer sentenced him to one day behind bars — time he'd already served.The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned his convictions in April, finding juror misconduct -- a juror's conversation with an attorney-friend during deliberations -- compromised Rosenthal's right to a fair verdict and so warranted a new trial. But the court also rejected Rosenthal's claim of immunity from prosecution as an officer of Oakland who grew the drug under the city's medical marijuana ordinance. The court in July refused Rosenthal's requests for rehearing, or for an "en banc" rehearing by a larger panel.Simpich told Breyer on Wednesday that Rosenthal's team of lawyers by Oct. 15 will file a petition seeking the U.S. Supreme Court's review. But Breyer said the 9th Circuit's Aug. 16 remand of the case requires that a retrial be scheduled within 70 days of that date.Richard Watts of San Francisco, arrested and charged in the same 2002 raids that nabbed Rosenthal, has not yet been tried. His attorney, J. Tony Serra of San Francisco, is serving 10 months in the federal prison at Lompoc for failing to pay income taxes and won't get out until March. So Breyer on Wednesday ordered Watts to find a new lawyer by the Sept. 13 hearing or one will be appointed for him.Source: San Mateo County Times, The (CA)Author: Josh Richman, Staff WriterPublished: August 30, 2006Copyright: 2006 ANG NewspapersWebsite: http://www.sanmateocountytimes.com/Contact: smctletters sanmateocountytimes.comRelated Articles & Web Sites:Americans For Safe Accesshttp://www.safeaccessnow.org/Ed Rosenthal's Pictures & Articles http://freedomtoexhale.com/trialpics.htmPending Bill Would End Pot-Trial Confusionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21786.shtml'Ganja Guru' Rosenthal's Conviction Overturnedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21783.shtmlCourt Overturns 'Guru of Ganja's' Convictionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread21782.shtml
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Comment #27 posted by John Tyler on September 03, 2006 at 08:45:46 PT
more harassment
This is just harassment. Ed’s case made the FEDs look stupid and they didn’t like it. He is on their sh*t list and they will keep coming after him until he dies, they win, or the political climate changes. This just another day at the office for them (this is what they do), but it puts a lot of stress on Ed emotionally and financially. 
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Comment #26 posted by FoM on August 31, 2006 at 12:31:00 PT
Hope
Yup injected into your brain or as a suppository! Whoa they are a strange bunch! LOL!
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Comment #25 posted by Hope on August 31, 2006 at 12:23:31 PT
obviously makes it unsuitable for use on humans
Let's hope so...but I somehow expect it could be considered "more suitable" to the prohibs than smoke or vapor.
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Comment #24 posted by Hope on August 31, 2006 at 12:19:50 PT
"injected directly into the brain"
Yep...that's your "accepted medical delivery device". Who wouldn't prefer to inhale some healing smoke or vapor over that method any day!"Accepted medical delivery device"....let them accept it. I'll pass.
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Comment #23 posted by FoM on August 31, 2006 at 12:08:37 PT
Hope
I wish I really knew. Excerpt: Improgan has shown promise as a pain reliever that mimics marijuana but does not have the undesirable side effects such as addiction or increased appetite.But there's one big problem: improgan must be injected directly into the brain. This obviously makes it unsuitable for use on humans. So far, it has only been tested on rats and mice in a laboratory setting.
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Comment #22 posted by Hope on August 31, 2006 at 12:07:01 PT
Telarus Comment 19
Another study showing that cannabis isn't the monster prohibitionists want to portray it as. Another study we didn't hear about. Published in May of this year! Reporters don't want this stuff published widely and it is news. It's news! We obviously still have a prohibitionist controled media. That stinks.Free Press? Obviously not completely free and unbiased.
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Comment #21 posted by Hope on August 31, 2006 at 11:59:11 PT
Comment 14...From NIDA?
"Lindsay Hough, a professor at the Albany Medical College's Center for Neuropharmacology and Neuroscience, has received a $1.053 million, four-year research grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to continue developing improgan, a marijuana-like pain relieving drug discovered in the college lab in the 1990s."That's a lot of money! What is NIDA up to with this? 
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Comment #20 posted by Hope on August 31, 2006 at 11:49:04 PT
comment 4
Never, ever buy a product from Scott's Miracle Grow wannabe slave owners. 
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Comment #19 posted by Telarus on August 31, 2006 at 10:41:23 PT
Harm Reduction Journal Article
 A preliminary DTI study showing no brain structural change associated with adolescent cannabis use 
Abstract	 	Analyses were performed on brain MRI scans from individuals who were frequent cannabis users (N = 10; 9 males, 1 female, mean age 21.1 ± 2.9, range: 18–27) in adolescence and similar age and sex matched young adults who never used cannabis (N = 10; 9 males, 1 female, mean age of 23.0 ± 4.4, range: 17–30). Cerebral atrophy and white matter integrity were determined using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to quantify the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and the fractional anisotropy (FA). Whole brain volumes, lateral ventricular volumes, and gray matter volumes of the amygdala-hippocampal complex, superior temporal gyrus, and entire temporal lobes (excluding the amygdala-hippocampal complex) were also measured. While differences existed between groups, no pattern consistent with evidence of cerebral atrophy or loss of white matter integrity was detected. It is concluded that frequent cannabis use is unlikely to be neurotoxic to the normal developing adolescent brain.
 
http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/3/1/17
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Comment #18 posted by Max Flowers on August 31, 2006 at 09:19:11 PT
#11
Looks like the guys who run dispensaries aren't just dumb gullible stoners, eh DEA? What a farce.
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on August 31, 2006 at 08:27:59 PT
Ekim
Thank you. I wonder how it is going for the Dixie Chicks. I don't follow them but I sure appreciate the stand they took.
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Comment #16 posted by ekim on August 31, 2006 at 08:24:44 PT
dixy chicks
on fresh air -- NPR radio at noon today
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on August 31, 2006 at 08:17:34 PT
Mayan
It really is something. What a mess this country is in now since Bush.
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on August 31, 2006 at 08:06:12 PT
Grant Funds Research on New Pain Reliever 
Thursday, August 31, 2006 
Hey man, pass the chips. Wait, maybe not...  
Lindsay Hough, a professor at the Albany Medical College's Center for Neuropharmacology and Neuroscience, has received a $1.053 million, four-year research grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to continue developing improgan, a marijuana-like pain relieving drug discovered in the college lab in the 1990s.Improgan has shown promise as a pain reliever that mimics marijuana but does not have the undesirable side effects such as addiction or increased appetite.But there's one big problem: improgan must be injected directly into the brain. This obviously makes it unsuitable for use on humans. So far, it has only been tested on rats and mice in a laboratory setting."The brain has its own marijuana-like chemicals called endocannabinoids that it uses to relieve pain," explained Dr. Hough. "In our animal studies, we have continued to find that improgan's pain-relieving properties overlap with that of the brain's own marijuana-like system."So the drug study now takes on a twofold task: how to get the drug in a form where it can be swallowed and make it to the brain and how to make sure that form retains the same pain-relieving properties it has now. Complete Article: http://tinyurl.com/oq3h5
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Comment #13 posted by BGreen on August 31, 2006 at 07:29:54 PT
That's one lucky dea agent
If it was several dea agents vs. one cannabist there would be one less cannabist walking the earth.Score one more win for our peaceful brothers and sisters.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #12 posted by mayan on August 31, 2006 at 07:27:36 PT
FoM
That's pretty interesting about the narc. There is so much meth,coke and heroin everywhere that it's mind-boggling that they focus on folks who supply natural medicine to those who really need it. The war on weed is the foundation of their war on our very freedom. They'll never,ever beat the weed. Mother nature laughs last!Off topic...Grant funds research on new pain reliever: 
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=512872&category=REGION&newsdate=8/31/2006May the true patriots stand up...Army intelligence analyst who questions official 9-11 story is honorable patriot:
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=13016
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on August 31, 2006 at 06:54:58 PT
DEA Agents Rescue Undercover Cop
Medical-marijuana dispensary workers held officer.Daily News August 30, 2006 
VAN NUYS - DEA agents entered a medical-marijuana dispensary Wednesday to free an undercover colleague who was not being allowed to leave by workers who discovered he was not a real customer, a Drug Enforcement Administration spokeswoman said. 
No one was injured and no arrests were made as of Wednesday evening after the incident at the Trichome Healing Center at 7100 Van Nuys Blvd., said DEA spokeswoman Sarah Pullen. The center was under surveillance when an undercover agent entered the business, Pullen said. While inside, the agent became aware that his identity may have been compromised and when he attempted to leave the business, employees stopped him. "They blocked the exit and at that point the surveillance agents became aware that the officer inside was not being allowed to leave so they entered the premises and were able to secure his exit," she said. An investigation is ongoing, she said. 
Copyright: 2006 Los Angeles Newspaper Group http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_4264398
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Comment #10 posted by mayan on August 31, 2006 at 06:01:10 PT
Leave Ed Alone!!!
The Feds are sour because of the 9th Circuit decision and are definitely out to get Ed. He is not a dangerous criminal and is a threat to nobody. Just how much of the taxpayer's money are these fascists going to spend while they try to ruin this peaceful man's life? These a**holes had better back off because the citizenry is getting very,very pissed off. THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Zwicker interview: "Searching for truth in the rubble":
http://www.vcreporter.com/article.php?id=3396&IssueNum=87UNH provost says no students complained about prof’s 9/11 views:
http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=155165&format=textMP3 download: David Ray Griffin Shreds NORAD Tapes:
http://911blogger.com/node/2391Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and 9/11: A Scandal Beyond What Has Been Seen Before:
http://www.geocities.com/kidhistory/bcr911.htm?2006309/11 Vendetta (video):
http://prisonplanet.com/articles/August2006/310806Vendetta.htmNYC - 5th Anniversary 9/11 Truth Gathering:
http://ny911truth.org/events/5th_anniversary.htm
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Comment #9 posted by OverwhelmSam on August 31, 2006 at 05:57:41 PT
Stance On Pot Was Governor's Undoing
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1152/a04.html?397
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Comment #8 posted by OverwhelmSam on August 31, 2006 at 05:45:12 PT
VOTE This November
Get the Word Out...Keep the Good Representatives, Boot the Bully Representatives:http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/4806.html
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Comment #7 posted by WolfgangWylde on August 31, 2006 at 03:11:54 PT
Ed's been on their list....
...for years. They'll get him, one way or another.
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Comment #6 posted by whig on August 30, 2006 at 23:16:07 PT
Americans for Safe Access
Since I just got back from the East Bay ASA meeting, I put a post up.http://cannablog.wordpress.com/2006/08/30/americans-for-safe-access/
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Comment #5 posted by Max Flowers on August 30, 2006 at 23:02:59 PT
Gluttons for punishment
This should be fun to watch. If it's a jury trial, there's no way he'll get convicted. If they decide to railroad him with some kind of fixed grand jury though, that's what scares me.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on August 30, 2006 at 20:54:30 PT
Scotts Miracle-Grow To Drug Test for Tobacco
http://www.oswegocountybusiness.com/index.php?a=1817
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Comment #3 posted by Hope on August 30, 2006 at 18:51:48 PT
Looks like
if they can't pin anything on him, they're just going to try to ruin him financially.Sorry, sorry system we have.
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Comment #2 posted by OverwhelmSam on August 30, 2006 at 18:43:22 PT
Big Bad Ash Bully
Great, our government is an ignorant bully. Don't they kick kids out of school for being bullies? Why? Because It's Wrong Exclamation Point!
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on August 30, 2006 at 18:37:14 PT
Limited Government?
Here we go again. I can't believe this administration and their ability to waste the taxpayers money.
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