Ed Rosenthal, who grows marijuana in an Oakland warehouse for use by the seriously ill, was convicted on federal drug charges even though he was not violating the laws of either Oakland or the state of California, which permit medicinal marijuana use. Now he faces a minimum of five years in prison, thanks to the Justice Department, which believes the weed should be eradicated entirely and refuses to give in to the voters of California, who approved Proposition 215 in 1996, allowing for marijuana as a medicinal pain-killer. This indicates that John Ashcroft may be a man who watches "Reefer Madness" for the message.
February 8, 2003 7:31 AM
