Rosenthal
Denied New Trial
Mon,
May 19, 2003
Federal U.S. District Judge Breyer last Friday denied a new
trial for the self-described "Guru of Ganja" Ed
Rosenthal on marijuana cultivation charges amid allegations
of jury bias.
Rosenthal
filed a motion for mistrial on the basis of jury members seeking
outside legal counsel regarding their rights as jurors. Mistrial
was denied by Breyer who decided to stick by federal laws
that prohibit medical-marijuana defense evidence in court
and outlaw marijuana in any form, thereby making Rosenthal
guilty regardless of jury bias.
The
marijuana advocate now faces spending the rest of his life
in prison when he's sentenced June 4.
During
the highly publicized trial in February, evidence that Rosenthal
was growing medical marijuana under Proposition 215, a law
approved by California voters, and had been deputized by the
city of Oakland to carry out that task, was not allowed under
federal law. Hours after the jury voted to convict Rosenthal,
the majority of them renounced their decision upon hearing
of this hidden evidence.
On
June 4 protesters around the country will gather to demonstrate
against the validity of the Rosenthal trial, in particular
the question of the will of California voters and against
conflicting federal drug law.
1)
PROTEST IN SAN FRANCISCO: Join Americans for Safe Access for
a rally and street theatre at the SF Federal Courthouse starting
at 1:15pm on the Turk St side of the SF Federal Building (Larkin
& Turk).
2)
EDUCATE THE JURY POOL: Question the integrity of our justice
system which imprisons people acting legally under state laws.
Stage a banner action outside your local federal courthouse
while jurors are coming in. Suggested message:
"Jurors: Acquit in All Pot Cases - It Could Be Medical
- www.jurors.info"
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