The article title says it all
Feb. 6th, 2003 03:48 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
novapsycheCalif. Jurors Convict, Then Decry Marijuana Verdict
First the jury convicted one of America's most outspoken marijuana advocates on drug charges. Now, just days later, jurors are praising him, expressing unusual regret about their verdict and saying vital evidence was withheld from them.
The San Francisco Federal Court jury found Ed Rosenthal, 58, a columnist who has written many books on marijuana, guilty on Friday on three counts of growing marijuana. The judge in the case refused to let jurors hear Rosenthal's defense: that he was growing the drug for medical use, something legal under state law while illegal under federal law.
[...] Rosenthal was cultivating the weed as an "officer" for the city of Oakland's medical marijuana program.
Judge Charles Breyer did not allow defense lawyers to introduce testimony on that issue because growing marijuana for any reason is a federal offense.
He did not return calls on the case. One of the prosecutors in the case, Geoffrey Hansen, also declined to comment.
[...] "I am really grateful to the jurors," Rosenthal told Reuters. "It was very brave of them to come out and express their views."
"It does show that I did not get a fair trial."
At the same time, he said their statements did not change the verdict. "Right now I am still convicted of three felonies," said Rosenthal, whose books include "Marijuana Grower's Handbook: The Indoor High Yield Guide" and "Marijuana Question? Ask Ed."
"What they did has no legal ramifications ... But by the end of the case I believe will be found innocent," he said, referring to his efforts to overturn the decision on appeal.
First the jury convicted one of America's most outspoken marijuana advocates on drug charges. Now, just days later, jurors are praising him, expressing unusual regret about their verdict and saying vital evidence was withheld from them.
The San Francisco Federal Court jury found Ed Rosenthal, 58, a columnist who has written many books on marijuana, guilty on Friday on three counts of growing marijuana. The judge in the case refused to let jurors hear Rosenthal's defense: that he was growing the drug for medical use, something legal under state law while illegal under federal law.
[...] Rosenthal was cultivating the weed as an "officer" for the city of Oakland's medical marijuana program.
Judge Charles Breyer did not allow defense lawyers to introduce testimony on that issue because growing marijuana for any reason is a federal offense.
He did not return calls on the case. One of the prosecutors in the case, Geoffrey Hansen, also declined to comment.
[...] "I am really grateful to the jurors," Rosenthal told Reuters. "It was very brave of them to come out and express their views."
"It does show that I did not get a fair trial."
At the same time, he said their statements did not change the verdict. "Right now I am still convicted of three felonies," said Rosenthal, whose books include "Marijuana Grower's Handbook: The Indoor High Yield Guide" and "Marijuana Question? Ask Ed."
"What they did has no legal ramifications ... But by the end of the case I believe will be found innocent," he said, referring to his efforts to overturn the decision on appeal.