What Ed Rosenthal Deserves

Ed Rosenthal, the cannabis cultivation expert who was convicted of federal drug charges last winter for growing medical marijuana in Oakland, California, is scheduled to be sentenced today. Most of the jurors who convicted Rosenthal later complained that they were kept in the dark about the details of his "crime": He was growing marijuana in cooperation with the city of Oakland for patients who are allowed to use it as a medicine under California law.

Press reports had indicated that Rosenthal faced a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. According to the Drug Reform Coordination Network, however, he might qualify for a lesser sentence under a "safety valve" provision for nonviolent offenders.

Still, it's clear that Rosenthal will not get what he really deserves: compensation for his legal fees and an apology from the federal government for interfering where it has no business.

Comments

[Allen]

Apparently, Ed was sentenced to 1 day in prison and walked free today. The feds had asked for 21 months.

[Grant Gould]

1 day (already served) and $1300. On the whole, a good outcome from a lousy mess. Of course, this will turn into just another piece of ammo for our representatives arguing that judges must be deprived of sentencing discretion and mandatory minimums enforced everywhere...
--G

[Dabney Braggart]

It may also be used as an argument of the, "See?! The laws aren't so bad," variety I've now heard repeatedly. Usually, they boil down to a spokesman first spending five minutes arguing that marijuana is a curse and unalloyably bad for smokers and society and deserves our strict sanction, and then adding, seemingly unperturbed, "And non-violent smokers aren't being arrested for it anyway---they're all violent criminals who also had some dope on them."

All I'm glad for E.R., but I think the sentencing proves that if you're white, semi-famous, and doing what at least _some_ authorities had decided was a good thing, you have little to worry about.

[James Merritt]

A day and $1300, eh? So how will this affect his plans to appeal?

This case, or a case like it, really needs to be heard in the Supreme Court. Win or lose, the outcome will be worthwhile.

[Warren]

Ed's case is just the latest in the very depressing decent into feudalism the War On Drugs is facilitating. It was bad enough when there was little to no coverage of the atrocities perpetrated by the Feds in the name of the sacred WOD. Bad enough when they were considered unfortunate but unavoidable and acceptable miscalculations (Missionaries shot down by U.S. paramilitary forces) in the great cause. Here is a case where the Feds claim to absolute authority cannot abide even compassion for the sick and dying, a case that receives vast media attention, and overwhelming public condemnation. And yet is already yesterday's news, easily forgotten and nothing to concern oneself with today.

More than the constitutionally protected freedoms I've been denied, more than the ignorance of the masses, what saddens me most is the acceptance. It seems to me that most folks don't even want to be free.

[mojo jojo]

"It seems to me that most folks don?t even want to be free."
Of course they don't. Not only have they been brainwashed in the government run schools, it's just easier to be told what to do than to think for yourself.

[JDM]

"It seems to me that most folks don?t even want to be free."

Let's not climb onto too high a horse here. Thankfully, people in general are pragmatic. They know the circumstances of their own lives. Most people don't care how free they are to smoke dope, since they don't smoke it. Those who do smoke it are alomst always free to do so in private.

[Warren]

JDM
Right. However, my point is that the WOD is used as a pretext for doing away with all (constitutionally enshrined) freedoms. So first no one pays any attention to violations of the 4th amendment, the takings clause, the Posse Comitatus Act etc. etc. Then when some egregiousness does get a little publicity no one cares anyway, presumably because as you suggest, the people who's rights are being violated are involved with drugs and most folks don't do drugs. But now here we have, the lust for and abuse of, power so naked that it won't even permit the alleviating of suffering. And still nothing. Where are all the AIDS activists? Where is all the concern over health care? Not to mention the damage the WOD does to the judicial system (at all levels), the economy (in uncountable ways), and international relations (although provoking civil wars in other lands may actually be a goal of the drug warriors).
The notion that I have an inalienable right to pursue happiness by taking drugs, that this is a basic right fundamental to a free society, is simply unworthy of consideration to most people. Well it looks like I made the long climb up my horse anyway, but perhaps I still made my point.

[Jack S.]

What Ed deserves is a medal, and maybe a fat bong hit.

[Steve in CO]

He also deserves what you received on the Washington Journal Mr. Sullum, a reasonable interview without being shouted down and insulted. Too bad C-Span doesn't get the ratings that the contemptable Mr. O'Reilly gets.

PS Did you happen to see the bitch-slapping he received on C-Span's BookTV segment? Molly Ivans and Al Franken had a pleasurable time attacking the attack dog.

🙂

[twistedmerkin]

No, Jacob, what Rosenthal deserves is a good public stoning!

[B.P.]

That's the problem with you libertines! You just...ugh...mmphhhff...ackkk! (spontaneous combustion)

[Jack S.]

"No, Jacob, what Rosenthal deserves is a good public stoning!"

Are you serious? I can only hope you are just a troll.

That said, why on earth would you want to stone someone like Ed? Do you even know who he is? Are you such a fascist that you would endorse the public execution of any human? I can only assume your opinion is a joke even to yourself or that you have a better place to post where ignorance is not quite so frowned upon.

[Tommy_Grand]

he is kidding

[Russ]

Perhaps he meant that Rosenthal should get stoned in public.

[Dabney Braggart]

Yes, we should get him stoned in public...but only men (and women who've bought beards and talk gruff). "Why, this weed is fit for JEHOVAH!"

[Hank]

The DEA agents and prosecutors responsible for his arrest should be required to spend an equal time in incarceration as Ed has already spent. This for violating States Rights and wrongful arrest of a man who has broken no law.

[Jack S.]

HAHA My bad!

I get it now!

Its to early for me just yet.