cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Guru Pleads Not Guilty





Marijuana Guru Pleads Not Guilty
Posted by CN Staff on October 16, 2006 at 16:10:28 PT
Bay City News Service
Source: Bay City News
San Francisco -- Medical marijuana advocate Ed Rosenthal pleaded not guilty in federal court in San Francisco today to expanded charges that include tax evasion and money laundering as well as marijuana cultivation.Rosenthal, 61, of Oakland, was charged with the additional counts in a superseding indictment issued by a federal grand jury last week.
He had previously faced a retrial on charges of cultivating marijuana and using an Oakland warehouse to grow the marijuana for the Harm Reduction Center, a now-defunct dispensary in San Francisco.U.S. Magistrate Nandor Vadas instructed Rosenthal to return to court on Friday for a hearing on prosecutors' request that he be ordered to sign a $100,000 personal bond while awaiting trial.Rosenthal's attorney, William Simpich, asked that he be allowed to remain free of custody without a financial bond.Rosenthal will also appear on Oct. 25 before U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, the judge who will preside over the not-yet-scheduled retrial.Outside court, Rosenthal said, ``This case is really about the government trying to stop patients from getting their medical marijuana.''``The government is trying to use me as the point man to show what can happen to compassionate people,'' Rosenthal alleged.Rosenthal was previously convicted in 2003 of three marijuana-related counts and sentenced to a day in prison, but a federal appeals court overturned the conviction in April because of juror misconduct. That ruling paved the way for a retrial.The superseding indictment includes five marijuana-related counts against Rosenthal, four counts of laundering a total of $1,855 in alleged marijuana proceeds, and five counts of filing false tax returns by failing to include alleged marijuana income.Rosenthal, the author of 13 books about marijuana, claimed at the time of the earlier trial that he was growing starter plants for patients under California's Compassionate Use Act of 1996, which permits seriously ill people to use medical marijuana.But Breyer did not allow him to cite the California measure as a defense because federal drug law makes no exception for the state law.A co-defendant, Richard Watts, 51, of Fairfax, was also arraigned today on charges of marijuana cultivation and distribution, money laundering and tax evasion. He also pleaded not guilty.Watts, who said he is now working as an emergency medical technician and harm reduction counselor, is alleged in the indictment to have worked for the Harm Reduction Center.His attorney, Julia Jayne, said Watts is seeking to have the charges against him dismissed because he was not given a speedy trial following the original indictment in 2002.Jayne said Watts was recovering from serious injuries at the time of the 2003 trial, but later became available and was never called to trial by prosecutors.Breyer will consider Watts's motion for dismissal at the Oct. 25 hearing.Complete Title: Marijuana Guru Pleads Not Guilty To Expanded ChargesSource: Bay City News (CA)Published: October 16, 2006Copyright: 2006 Bay City News Contact: bcn pacbell.net Website: http://www.baycitynews.com/ Related Articles & Web Site:Ed Rosenthal's Pictures & Articles http://freedomtoexhale.com/trialpics.htmMarijuana Advocate Faces New U.S. Indictmenthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22282.shtmlFed Jury Slaps Guru of Ganja With New Chargeshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22274.shtml
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Comment #22 posted by FoM on October 24, 2006 at 16:58:11 PT
For Immediate Release: Ed Rosenthal Update
Rally and Press Conference for Ed Rosenthal and Richard Watts***By Clark Sullivan Tuesday Oct 24th, 2006 Contacts: Clark Sullivan 415 424 0125 Shona Gochenaur 415 240 5247 Who: Axis of Love, HempEvolution.org, Harvey Milk Club - Cannabis Caucus What: Rally and Press Conference for Ed Rosenthal and Richard Watts When: 1 PM; Wednesday, October 25, 2006 Where: Phillip Burton Federal Building; 450 Golden Gate Ave; San Francisco, CA Why: Seeking to 'save face' over it's failed prosecution of Ed Rosenthal, the U.S. Government still refuses to acknowledge that it has failed in it's campaign against medical marijuana patients. Wasting taxpayer resources on an expensive witch hunt, overzealous Assistant U.S. Attorney George Bevan, who has been called "Mr. Marijuana for the Government", is maliciously persecuting Mr. Rosenthal, Rick Watts and medical cannabis patients everywhere despite the fact that nine of twelve jurors would have recanted their verdict at the first trial had they known it was about medical cannabis. Employing a grand jury to intimidate two witnesses, who refused to testify, the U.S. Attorney's Office indicted Ed and Rick on a bevy of groundless new charges, including tax evasion and money laundering on an insubstantial amount of money. Four years later, the federal government is finally prosecuting Mr. Watts, who is in poor health and excruciating pain, in what can only be called 'justice delayed'. Isn't Mr. Watts being punished enough already, having been on federal pretrial probation since 2002? Isn't he guaranteed the right to a speedy trial by the Constitution? Ed, who was deputized by the city of Oakland, was sanctioned under city and state laws to grow marijuana and sell the plants to dispensaries. He believed he was acting legally due to continued support from local officials. Now, Mr. Rosenthal faces life in prison and millions of dollars of fines. At Mr. Rosenthal's bail hearing, Bevan sought to raise Ed's bail and take away his passport, despite over forty previous appearances without incident, Magistrate Judge Vaughn remarked that he assumed Mr. Rosenthal would fight his case "to the bitter end" and that he was not a flight risk. Ed vows to continue his battle against a vindictive federal government, "Most people considering their circumstances for one reason or another are forced to give in under the weight of government pressure. I'm not only standing up for dispensaries, but for all these people who've been harassed and hounded by the government." We demand that the U.S. Attorney's Office cease their prosecution of Ed Rosenthal, as well as those currently awaiting trial for medical cannabis. We demand cease the Drug Enforcement Agency immediately cease their arrest, investigation and harassment of regulated medical cannabis dispensaries. We also demand the federal government release all medical cannabis prisoners currently in custody and grant them general amnesty.http://www.hempevolution.orghttp://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/10/24/18323012.php
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Comment #21 posted by observer on October 20, 2006 at 20:29:20 PT
Ed Rosenthal - news feeds
Ed Rosenthal news feed pagehttp://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/topic/ed_rosenthal.htm
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Comment #20 posted by ekim on October 20, 2006 at 18:11:50 PT
13th Hemp Convention in S.F.
on Nov 8-9
http://www.thehia.org
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Comment #19 posted by ekim on October 20, 2006 at 18:07:23 PT
Whig do you have any ideas for a ad for Ed
how about some billboards letting the people know what a great guy Ed is. of course the San Francisco trolley would look good in a Ed ad going down to fisherman's Warf -- "Ed Rosenthal working for 30 years to protect the Cannabis Plant from Total Extinction at the hands of the DEA"endorsements from leading environmentalist other locations for signs and ads will be very interesting
as the bay area has been the epic center for media inovation for the entire nation
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Comment #18 posted by whig on October 20, 2006 at 15:54:17 PT
FoM
Ed is a good man.
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on October 20, 2006 at 14:57:57 PT
Update on Ed Rosenthal
Marijuana Guru Released on Bond Pending Trial***Bay City News ServiceOctober 20, 2006SAN FRANCISCO - Medical marijuana advocate Ed Rosenthal was granted release on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond today while he awaits a federal trial in San Francisco on drug cultivation and money laundering charges.The bond was set by U.S. Magistrate Nandor Vadas in San Francisco and was halfway between requests by prosecution and defense lawyers. Prosecutors had asked for a $100,000 bond while Rosenthal's attorney asked that he be released on his own recognizance.Rosenthal's next court date is a status conference on Oct. 25 before U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, the judge who will preside over his retrial.Rosenthal, 61, of Oakland, the author of 13 books about marijuana, was previously convicted in Breyer's court in 2003 of three marijuana-related felonies and sentenced to a day in prison.But a federal appeals court overturned the conviction earlier this year because of juror misconduct, thus paving the way for a retrial.In the retrial, Rosenthal will face additional money laundering and tax evasion counts that were added to previous marijuana cultivation charges in a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Oct. 12.He is accused of growing marijuana for a now-defunct dispensary in San Francisco.Rosenthal has claimed outside of court that he sought to help patients who needed medical marijuana. But federal drug laws make no exception for a California law that allows seriously ill patients to use medical marijuana on a doctor's recommendation.Copyright: 2006 by Bay City News, Inc. http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/15809448.htm
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Comment #16 posted by Hope on October 17, 2006 at 22:26:24 PT
Measure establishes government-regulated pot shops
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15305579/
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Comment #15 posted by afterburner on October 17, 2006 at 22:15:59 PT
Amen, mayan,
To jury nullification.
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Comment #14 posted by Hope on October 17, 2006 at 21:58:35 PT
Yes, the "Amen's are nice."
Thank you.
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Comment #13 posted by whig on October 17, 2006 at 17:53:22 PT
gw 
Can't vote on 44 if you're not in Colorado. Amens are nice.
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Comment #12 posted by global_warming on October 17, 2006 at 14:29:34 PT
its going to take a little more than an Amen
or an Oh My, Vote YES on 44, strike that 'spark, that can light the fire of freedom.
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Comment #11 posted by whig on October 17, 2006 at 10:17:24 PT
Hope, BGreen
Amen.
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Comment #10 posted by BGreen on October 17, 2006 at 09:03:40 PT
I agree with you in prayer, Hope
Lord, please hear our prayer.Amen.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #9 posted by Hope on October 17, 2006 at 08:05:27 PT
The sheer wickedness of our governors....
"Each of them face life in prison and millions of dollars in fines."In Christ Jesus, my Brother, I ask the Father, God of all creation, please help Ed, Richard, and Ken and all of us. They and we are up against a true monster. In Grace, help us overcome those who would visit such sorrow upon us.Thank You.
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Comment #8 posted by global_warming on October 17, 2006 at 05:40:34 PT
Interesting Letter
http://tinyurl.com/v3fd2Letter to the editor: Pot sentences are out of proportion to the 'crime'I would like to hear Circuit Judge Dan L. Vaughn or any other official explain how the lies about marijuana justify any prison sentence at all let alone a 30-year term.Proverbs 19: 9: The false witness will not be free from punishment, and he that launches forth mere lies will perish.Punishing people who have done no harm to their fellow man because of absurd fictions is a crime against humanity. 
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Comment #7 posted by The GCW on October 16, 2006 at 20:37:34 PT
Barthwell spews.
http://cat.he.net/~saferco/blog.htmlTune In Wednesday For Live Marijuana Showdown on KBDIThis Wednesday, October 18, at 7 p.m., KBDI Channel 12 in Denver will be hosting and airing a live televised debate on Amendment 44 as part of its Decision 2006 series.In the corner of justice and honesty:Jessica Peck Corry, GOCAMP co-founder
Mason Tvert, SAFER campaign directorAnd in the corner of hypocrisy and distortion:Robert McGuire, once GOCAM and now Save Our Society From Drugs campaign director
Dr. Andrea Barthwell, former Deputy Drug Czar in the Office of National Drug Control PolicyThis should be an exciting one, so be sure to tune in and watch!
 
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Comment #6 posted by whig on October 16, 2006 at 19:57:58 PT
ASA release on Ed Rosenthal and Rick Watts
http://tinyurl.com/yan5k5Ed Rosenthal and Rick Watts were arraigned in federal court in San Francisco today before Magistrate Larson. The government explained its 25-count indictment, which included charges of manufacture and distribution of marijuana, maintaining a place for manufacture and distribution, possession for the purpose of distribution, conspiracy, money laundering, and tax evasion. Ken Hayes was named in the indictment, but was not present for the arraignment. The three defendants have different and overlapping charges. Each of them face life in prison and millions of dollars in fines.Both defendants present pleaded not guilty. The issue of bail was continued until later in the week due to confusion around the original bonds in the case and whether they are still standing. Regardless of the bond status, the government is seeking $100,000 bond each for both Rosenthal and Watts. There will be a bond hearing for Watts on Thursday, October 19 at 9:30am, and a bond hearing for Rosenthal on Friday, October 20 at 11:30am. Both hearings are before Magistrate Laporte in San Francisco federal district court.Today, Magistrate Larson scheduled the next status conference for Rosenthal and Watts on Wednesday, October 25 at 2:15pm. That status conference is before Judge Breyer, and will be the first proceeding before Breyer regarding the new superseding indictment.Kris--
Kris Hermes
Legal Campaign Director
Americans for Safe Access
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on October 16, 2006 at 18:41:40 PT
Mayan
I hope Ed wins. They sure have packed a lot of charges on him. 
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Comment #4 posted by mayan on October 16, 2006 at 18:25:56 PT
Fight Em', Ed!!! 
``This case is really about the government trying to stop patients from getting their medical marijuana.''Let's hope for jury nullification. If the feds won't recognize our will then we will throw a monkey-wrench into the gears of the beast.THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN..."Official" 9/11 story On Life support; The Truth is Taking Over:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_john_per_061016_the_truth_is_taking_.htmTime For The Sleeping 9/11 Giant To Awaken:
http://www.infowars.net/articles/October2006/151006Sleeping.htm9/11 Poll Results: 2002-2006:
http://prisonplanet.com/articles/October2006/161006Poll.htm9/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB - OUR NATION IS IN PERIL:
http://www.911sharethetruth.com/
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Comment #3 posted by whig on October 16, 2006 at 18:10:40 PT
freewillks
LSD saved my life once too.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on October 16, 2006 at 17:59:55 PT
freewillks 
I believe the article. I think LSD used under the right circumstances could help people kick alcohol dependency. 
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Comment #1 posted by freewillks on October 16, 2006 at 17:50:20 PT
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
Oct. 16, 2006 — Imagine this. You are hooked on alcohol and you want help getting off the booze. You go to your doctor, and he or she says, "Drop some acid." That's right. LSD, the infamous drug of choice for many hippies in the 1960s and '70s. Lysergic acid diethylamide, the drug that caused hallucinations or "tripping," was, of course, outlawed, giving it immeasurable street cred in its time, before fading away as flower-painted bodies grew into gray-flannel suits. So, in the 21st century, why would a respected medical doctor even consider prescribing LSD as a wonder drug to help cure alcoholism? And will it actually happen? 
sniped
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