cannabisnews.com: Federal Prosecutors Will Retry 'Guru of Ganja'





Federal Prosecutors Will Retry 'Guru of Ganja'
Posted by CN Staff on April 13, 2007 at 14:53:18 PT
By Paul Elias, The Associated Press
Source: Associated Press
San Francisco, CA -- Federal prosecutors said Friday they would retry marijuana grower Ed Rosenthal on cultivation charges, even after a federal judge urged them to drop the case and chastised the government for lodging charges solely to punish the self-proclaimed "guru of ganja."U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer demanded to know who in the Department of Justice decided to continue pursuing Rosenthal, who had his original conviction overturned last year.
Rosenthal can't be sentenced to prison even if he is convicted because the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the one-day prison sentence ordered by Breyer in 2003.Newly appointed U.S. Attorney Scott Schools made the decision, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney George Bevan, who said he was unsure if Justice Department officials in Washington were involved.The judge said the government's position to go forward left him no choice but to hold a trial, which he scheduled for May 14."This isn't a criminal case, this is a political case," said Rosenthal, who appeared in court dressed in a blue wizard's robe with a golden marijuana leaf emblazoned over the breast. "I may as well get my money's worth and have a trial."Rosenthal, 62, has written numerous books with titles such as "The Big Book of Buds" and "Ask Ed: Marijuana Law. Don't Get Busted." He also wrote an "Ask Ed" column for High Times magazine.Rosenthal was convicted of three felonies in 2003 for growing hundreds of plants for a city of Oakland medical marijuana program. Breyer sentenced him to one day in prison on grounds that Rosenthal reasonably believed he was immune from prosecution because he was acting on behalf of Oakland city officials.A federal appeals court overturned his conviction last year because of misconduct by a juror who consulted an attorney on how to decide the case. The appeals court also ruled against the government and said that the one-day prison sentence was fair, which means Rosenthal doesn't face any more prison time even if he is convicted again.The appeals court ruling affirmed the federal government's right to prosecute medical marijuana clubs in states such as California where the drug is legal when used for medicinal purposes.When federal prosecutors indicted Rosenthal again on three growing charges in October over the same marijuana operation, they also added four counts of money laundering and five counts of filing false tax returns.But Breyer tossed out those additional charges last month, saying they were solely to punish Rosenthal for winning his appeal to overturn his initial conviction and complaining that the government treated him unfairly. Prosecutors said Friday they wouldn't appeal the judge's decision to toss out those charges.On Friday, Rosenthal's attorneys filed court papers asking Breyer to order the government to pay their fees for fighting the money laundering and tax charges. Federal law allows defendants to seek attorneys fees if they've been wrongly charged by vindictive prosecutors."The government's position was vexatious, frivolous and in bad faith because it was motivated by the government's desire to prosecute not convict Mr. Rosenthal in retaliation for his constitutional right to openly express his ideas and freely voice his beliefs without oppression," the filing stated.The three lawyers declined outside court to state how much money they were seeking and filed that figure confidentially with Breyer.Source: Associated Press (Wire)Author: Paul Elias, The Associated PressPublished:  April 13, 2007 Copyright: 2007 Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site: Ed Rosenthal's Pictures & Articles http://freedomtoexhale.com/trialpics.htmJudge Tells Feds To Ease Up on Marijuana Maven http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22762.shtmlFeds Plan To Retry Marijuana Advocatehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22761.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #7 posted by FoM on April 15, 2007 at 09:53:05 PT
Hope
Ed sure lives on the outer edge. He always has. I think about how we look back in history and are amazed when someone did something extraordinary and then they become exalted  in a way. When we see eccentricity 
 now we can't figure out how to put it in words. I think only history will record some of the most outlandish behaviors and then they will be remembered for pushing the limit and achieving success. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by Hope on April 15, 2007 at 09:43:05 PT
He may as well get his money's worth...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18098325/The robe taunt.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by FoM on April 15, 2007 at 09:37:26 PT
Picture of Ed
http://news.yahoo.com/photo/070413/480/8a1a473c883b44098c89c5d048c17414
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by Hope on April 15, 2007 at 09:32:00 PT
The Wizard Robe
I saw a picture of it somewhere. I didn't care for it. It looked like a housecoat or something. He did have a tie and white shirt on under it.He is beleaguered. It's outrageous and sad that the government is doing this to a citizen.I'll keep looking for the picture.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by John Tyler on April 15, 2007 at 08:43:30 PT
Gotta love this guy
"This isn't a criminal case, this is a political case," said Rosenthal, who appeared in court dressed in a blue wizard's robe with a golden marijuana leaf emblazoned over the breast. "I may as well get my money's worth and have a trial."Gotta love this guy. Are there any pictures of his outfit?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by Truth on April 13, 2007 at 15:54:21 PT
yeah
What the Dr. said.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by Dr Ganj on April 13, 2007 at 15:48:11 PT
Federal Vindictiveness
Look how far these rabid, nefarious, drug warmongers will go to try and convict someone over growing beautiful plants! How much more taxpayers' money will go to this thoroughly unnecessary trial? 
How about using that money to convict real criminals, instead of wasting all this time and effort to get a one day sentence *that has already been served!* What absolute, crazy madness! 
Our government hard at work. Our government working hard to make an example out of a free thinker. This is oppression. This is a police state. When will this blatant disregard for human rights finally end?
Our country has 2.2 million people in its prisons and jails. How can we possibly call the United Sates "land of the free", and a democracy, when so many of us are in jail? It's deplorable, and it's disgusting. 
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment