Cannabis Hemp News

The U.S. government's attempt to silence marijuana-cultivation expert and author Ed Rosenthal, as well as his attorneys, was thwarted today in federal court, but those assembled to hear the outcome of the latest twist in what was already a Kafkaesque legal saga had to wait to the end of the day for the judge's decision. Fear of pervasive media reports on the trial "contaminating the jury" had yesterday prompted Assistant U.S. Attorney George Bevan, Jr. to ask the judge to put a stop to all press interviews until the conclusion of Mr. Rosenthal's federal trial. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer responded yesterday by asking Mr. Rosenthal to agree not to speak to the …

BY J.K. DINEEN Of The Examiner Staff To the federal government, Bob Martin is a key witness against medical marijuana advocate Ed Rosenthal: on Thursday, he testified Rosenthal once carted two boxes of plants into a Sixth Street pot dispensary in the outer Tenderloin. But to hundreds of patients who regularly pick up their herbal medicine at his 10th Street Compassionate Care Center, Martin remains one of The City's most active distributors of medicinal pot. The apparent contrast between Martin the government witness and Martin the proud purveyor of medical marijuana was one of the most interesting things to emerge Thursday in the trial of Rosenthal, a h…

Global Drug Reformers Hold First Legalization Summit, February 12-15 in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. An international drug legalization summit hosted by the Autonomous University of the Yucatan -- "Out from the Shadows: Ending Drug Prohibition in the 21st Century," will feature leaders from throughout Latin America and the world, beginning on February 12 in the Mexican city of Merida. Among the confirmed participants -- who will also be available for press interviews -- are former Prosecutor General Gustavo de Greiff (Colombia) and former Solicitor to the Supreme Court Jaime Malamud Goti (Argentina), Bolivian congressmen and coca growers' leaders Evo Morales and Felipe Q…

http://www.examiner.com/news/default.jsp?s...ory=n.pot.0123w Judge weighs pot-trial gag Warren Hinckle: A prejudicial judge? BY J.K. DINEEN Of The Examiner Staff The drug cultivation trial of medicinal marijuana guru Ed Rosenthal turned into a free speech battle Wednesday when the presiding judge said he was inclined to sign a media gag order and defense attorneys vowed to fight any such order. The rift emerged after Assistant U.S. Attorney George Bevan Jr. complained about news coverage of the trial, which began Tuesday in federal court. In particular, Bevan said he was upset about Wednesday's Examiner cover, which showed a photograph of Rosenthal smiling…

Federal Prosecutors are attempting to undermine California's medical marijuana laws by rejecting efforts by Oakland city officials to immunize medical cannabis grower Ed Rosenthal from federal prosecution. Rosenthal, who was deputized by Oakland officials to cultivate cannabis in accordance with California's Compassionate Use Act (Proposition 215), is on trial this week in U.S. District Court on federal drug charges. A victory for prosecutors could signal the beginning of the end for the state's landmark medical marijuana statute. Across the state, 50 medical cannabis clubs distribute pot to patients who are permitted to cultivate, possess, and consume the drug with …

Lib push on drug-drivers January 23, 2003 A DEVICE that can test for illegal drug use could help police combat people driving while under the influence of drugs, the State Opposition said yesterday. Infrastructure spokesman Brett Whiteley said the device, which only needs a swab of saliva, could hold the key to testing drivers suspected of being under the influence of illegal drugs. "The Cozart RapiScan, or a similar device, may be applicable for testing drivers who police reasonably believe may be under the influence of drugs such as marijuana," Mr Whiteley said. "Clearly the technology is available, or at least is on the horizon, to enable police to accurately a…

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The federal marijuana cultivation trial of former High Times columnist Ed Rosenthal began Tuesday like so many drug cases. Prosecutor George Bevan told jurors that agents seized some 3,000 plants growing in Rosenthal's warehouse in Oakland. "It's a federal offense," Bevan said. But this is no routine drug prosecution for a man whose column and books preach the gospel on tips for growing marijuana and evading the law. Rosenthal says he was growing medical marijuana, "to help the sick," which is legal under California law and in seven other states. Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Oregon and Washington allow the infirm to receive, possess, grow or …

Clash on Medical Marijuana Puts a Grower in U.S. Court By DEAN E. MURPHY AKLAND, Calif., Jan. 20 — As a marijuana celebrity, Ed Rosenthal has been on a career roll. The author of a dozen cannabis self-help books and a magazine advice column, "Ask Ed," Mr. Rosenthal is the pothead's answer to Ann Landers, Judge Judy, Martha Stewart and the Burpee Garden Wizard all in one. Advertisement Can't get rid of the powdery mildew on your cannabis seedling? Try a 20 percent skim-milk solution. The feds got you in court on charges of cultivation? Challenge their crop yield estimates. Want a high without the harmful tar? Use a pipe that vaporizes it. Mr. Rosent…