Ed Rosenthal
Encyclopedia
Ed Rosenthal is a California
horticulturist, author, publisher, and Cannabis
grower known for his advocacy for the legalization of marijuana (cannabis as a drug
) use. He served as a columnist for High Times Magazine during the 80's and 90's. He was arrested in 2002 for cultivation of cannabis by federal authorities, who do not recognize the authority of states to regulate the use of medical marijuana. He was convicted in Federal Court, but the conviction was overturned on appeal. Rosenthal was subsequently convicted again, but was not re-sentenced, since his original sentence had been completed. Rosenthal briefly attended Youngstown State University
in Youngstown, Ohio
.
Rosenthal has been active in promoting and developing policies of civil regulation for medicinal marijuana. With the passage of California's pioneering Proposition 215
in 1996, which authorizes medicinal use of marijuana, he worked with the state and local governments to implement the delivery of pharmaceutical grade cannabis to patients with a doctor's recommendation to use marijuana.
Rosenthal is also the author of numerous books about the cultivation of marijuana. His most recent marijuana cultivation book, "Marijuana Grower's Handbook," was released in June 2010.
On May 31, 2007, it was announced that Rosenthal had been convicted again on three of the five charges against him: one conspiracy count; one count of cultivation, intending to distribute and distributing marijuana; and one count of using a commercial building as a site for growing and distributing marijuana. He was acquitted of growing and distributing marijuana at the Harm Reduction Center medical-marijuana club in San Francisco. The jury deadlocked on whether he had conspired to grow and distribute marijuana at the Harm Reduction Center. Judge Breyer once again prohibited Rosenthal's lawyers from arguing before the jury that his work was sanctioned by Oakland government officials, a main point of contention for the jurors of the previous trial. Ed Rosenthal did not receive any additional jail time and planned to appeal.
Rosenthal currently writes a blog on marijuana cultivation and of American politics. It can be found at http://edrosenthal.com/.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
horticulturist, author, publisher, and Cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
grower known for his advocacy for the legalization of marijuana (cannabis as a drug
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
) use. He served as a columnist for High Times Magazine during the 80's and 90's. He was arrested in 2002 for cultivation of cannabis by federal authorities, who do not recognize the authority of states to regulate the use of medical marijuana. He was convicted in Federal Court, but the conviction was overturned on appeal. Rosenthal was subsequently convicted again, but was not re-sentenced, since his original sentence had been completed. Rosenthal briefly attended Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University, founded in 1908, is an urban research university located in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. As of fall 2010, there were 15,194 students and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. It is recognized as being one of the premier schools in the country, comparable to Ivy League...
in Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
.
Rosenthal has been active in promoting and developing policies of civil regulation for medicinal marijuana. With the passage of California's pioneering Proposition 215
California Proposition 215 (1996)
Proposition 215, or the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, is a California law concerning the use of medical cannabis. It was enacted, on November 5, 1996, by means of the initiative process, and passed with 5,382,915 votes in favor and 4,301,960 against.The proposition was a state-wide voter...
in 1996, which authorizes medicinal use of marijuana, he worked with the state and local governments to implement the delivery of pharmaceutical grade cannabis to patients with a doctor's recommendation to use marijuana.
Rosenthal is also the author of numerous books about the cultivation of marijuana. His most recent marijuana cultivation book, "Marijuana Grower's Handbook," was released in June 2010.
Legal battles
In 2002, federal agents arrested Rosenthal, who previously had been deputized by the City of Oakland to grow marijuana for medical use. He was convicted, and some of the jurors denounced their own verdict after they learned Rosenthal was acting as an agent of the City of Oakland, a fact that had been withheld from them during the trial In a surprise setback for the federal government, Rosenthal was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer to only one day in prison; time already served. In 2006 the 9th Circuit Appeals Court subsequently overturned Rosenthal's conviction. Months later the U.S. Attorney's office re-indicted him. Although, the judge had promised to sentence Rosenthal to no additional prison time, a new trial commenced on 14 May 2007.On May 31, 2007, it was announced that Rosenthal had been convicted again on three of the five charges against him: one conspiracy count; one count of cultivation, intending to distribute and distributing marijuana; and one count of using a commercial building as a site for growing and distributing marijuana. He was acquitted of growing and distributing marijuana at the Harm Reduction Center medical-marijuana club in San Francisco. The jury deadlocked on whether he had conspired to grow and distribute marijuana at the Harm Reduction Center. Judge Breyer once again prohibited Rosenthal's lawyers from arguing before the jury that his work was sanctioned by Oakland government officials, a main point of contention for the jurors of the previous trial. Ed Rosenthal did not receive any additional jail time and planned to appeal.
Advocacy
Rosenthal's public battles in the court have focused attention on the question of whether marijuana laws have become more harmful to society than the behavior they were intended to regulate. Recent polls show that as many as 80% of Americans support legal access to medical marijuana. The Federal Government does not recognize the legitimacy of medical marijuana initiatives passed by individual states.Biography
Rosenthal lives in Oakland, California with his wife Jane Klein. He has a daughter named Justine and a son named Nick. He still works as an author, expert witness, publisher, and general humanitarian.Career
Ed Rosenthal is the founder and owner of Quick Trading Company, which publishes a large number of books about marijuana cultivation and the marijuana lifestyle. Many of these books are authored by Rosenthal himself, who wrote one of the first marijuana cultivation books almost 40 years ago. His most recent book, "Marijuana Grower's Handbook," was release in 2010. Quick Trading Company also publishes marijuana cultivation books by other up-and-coming experts in the field like Subcool and SeeMore Buds.Rosenthal currently writes a blog on marijuana cultivation and of American politics. It can be found at http://edrosenthal.com/.
External links
- Green Aid, details on Ed Rosenthal's legal battles
- http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/trialpics.htm, photos from Ed Rosenthal's legal battle, Federal Court, San Francisco, June 4, 2003
- Medical Marijuana of America Rosenthal 2.0, The re-trial of the Ganja Guru by Vanessa Nelson
- Official blog
- Rosenthal's commercial site