FEDS HARASSING ED ROSENTHAL(author of Marijuana Growers Guide) As you know I was placed on trial in 2003 for providing marijuana starter plants to medical marijuana distribution centers. The exact charges were manufacture, providing a place to manufacture and conspiracy. The jury found me guilty. Within four days of the trial eight of the jurors repudiated the verdict. They had learned the whole truth and told the media that they felt that they had been used and worse. One of the jurors revealed that she had consulted a lawyer about the trial while she was a juror. After considering all the facts of the case the judge sentenced me to one day in prison, time served. I appealed the conviction on three grounds: improper actions by the juror, the fact that I was a city officer should have exempted me from prosecution under federal law and that even if I was not protected I had been led to believe I was by proper authorities. The 9th circuit reversed the conviction on the basis of improper actions by the juror and held that I could be re-tried. On August 30 the judge held a status hearing and ruled that according to law the trial must start by the end of October. In addition, this time I will be tried with three co-defendants. Two of those people were subpoenaed by a grand jury and have refused to testify. This is an extremely important case for the government. They hope that a win here against me will give them a pass to attack all providers functioning under the California Medical Law, then they will move on to decimate progress made in the other states with medical marijuana laws. As you probably know, the federal authorities closed all of the medical facilities in San Diego. If we win it will be a major setback for the government's efforts to contain the medical marijuana phenomenon. Our success, not guilty verdicts, will send a message to the government that the public will not tolerate federal interference in the state medical program. I am attempting to assemble the legal team now. Each of the four of us is interviewing attorneys and we are planning a joint legal strategy. As you probably guessed I am writing to you seeking funding for this very costly trial. The last trial, which cost over $350,000, used up most of my savings and a good part of my company's working capital. It left me in a critical, vulnerable position financially. I don't have the money to finance a trial for myself and my co-defendants are in worse positions than I am. We expect the trial to cost around $500,000. Could you help us finance this trial so that we can protect medical marijuana users throughout the country? Since my finances are depleted I don't have the funds to mount the defense my co-defendants and I require. Unless we can raise money very quickly we will be left to federal public defenders. We are trying to recruit qualified attorneys to work at a reduced rate. Even if they do they will need funds for various court expenses as well as publicity. This is a critical moment and I am reaching out to my friends, to political activists and to all who have voiced concern about this issue as well as my well being. Please help the four of us fight these laws. Give us the tools so we can win this battle. You have shown great courage in being so outspoken about marijuana. I'm sure you understand the importance of this case. Perhaps some of your friends who are not so outspoken could also help. Any gifts to Green-Aid, The Marijuana Legal Defense and Education Fund are tax deductible. It is a 501.(c)3 non-profit corporation. Thank you for reading this and for your consideration. I welcome all ideas and referrals. Yours truly, Ed Rosenthal Green Aid - Postal Mail Box 172, 484Lake Park Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610 Online www.green-aid.com My phone 510-290-5993.
lol, I think Ed is kind of an idiot for doing this. If you lost 350k and got a sentence of 1 day, time served, would you then appeal that to throw away 500 more k? Come on, this is fucking idiotic and just thinking about wasting that much capital makes me queasy.
It's not the point of the money. Did you really read it? It's about the fight to legalize medicinal marijuana. Nobody Cares about the money thing. Its the point of the issue. If nobody does anything then who knows what will happen next. Outlaw Spray De-odorants because kids are huffing them to get high? I support Mr. Rosenthal one hundred percent of the way and will be contributing as much as I possibly can to help him.
lol dude this is old news, it ain't about nothing but ED, ED ED ED. Seems to me like you're another one of these pretentious potheads, so hey donate your money cause you know ed would donate to your court fees ;-)
I never said anything violent. All I stated was that I disagree with his oppinion and if he doesn't like that then oh well. And to 2cesarewild, I think Ed would donate if the circumstances were reversed and I was in his position.