Pubdate: Wed, 30 May 2007 Source: International Herald-Tribune (International) Copyright: International Herald Tribune 2007 Contact: http://www.iht.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/212 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Ed+Rosenthal (Ed Rosenthal) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal) US JURY CONVICTS MARIJUANA 'GURU' AGAIN SAN FRANCISCO: Ed Rosenthal, the self-proclaimed marijuana "guru," was convicted again Wednesday in federal court of illegally growing hundreds of marijuana plants that he said were meant to treat sick people, which state law allows. The decision highlighted the growing tension between federal law and laws in 11 states that have legalized marijuana to some degree. Rosenthal, 63, was convicted of three cultivation and conspiracy charges after U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer prohibited the marijuana activist's lawyers from telling the jury Rosenthal was working for a marijuana club sanctioned by local government officials. "We weren't allowed to give the jury valuable information it needed to make a fair and unbiased decision," said Rosenthal, founder of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that marijuana is an illegal drug and federal law trumps state laws, which left Rosenthal without much of a defense. Advisers call U.S. interrogation methods 'amateurish' However, he will not serve any time in prison. That is because Rosenthal previously was convicted of the same charges in 2003 and sentenced to a day in prison because the judge said Rosenthal reasonably believed he was immune from prosecution by acting on behalf of Oakland city officials. An appeals court tossed out that conviction because of juror misconduct. The judge, in an attempt to persuade federal prosecutors to drop the case, has said he would not sentence Rosenthal to any more prison time. Federal prosecutor George Bevan declined to comment Wednesday. Rosenthal has written books with titles such as "The Growers Handbook," "The Big Book of Buds" and "Ask Ed: Marijuana Law. Don't Get Busted." - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath