Pubdate: Tue, 05 Mar 2002
Source: Orange County Register (CA)
Copyright: 2002 The Orange County Register
Contact:  http://www.ocregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/321

POT EXPERT PLEADS INNOCENT TO CHARGE WITH 10-YEAR TERM

OAKLAND -- To generations of marijuana enthusiasts, Ed Rosenthal is the 
answer man, brimming with information on how to grow the best buds. To the 
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, he is just a big drug dealer.

Caught in a struggle between federal and state authorities who have been at 
odds since California and other states legalized medical marijuana, 
Rosenthal freely admits he was growing the 600 pot plants that agents 
seized from an Oakland warehouse on Feb. 12.

On Monday, Rosenthal, 57, pleaded innocent to conspiring to grow 1,000 or 
more marijuana plants, charges that carry a minimum 10-year prison term.

"The laws against medical marijuana put anyone with a conscience in the 
middle of a major conflict," Rosenthal said. "You want to help the 
patients, but the federal government says it's illegal."

But DEA spokesman Richard Meyer said, "Our job is to enforce the federal 
drug statutes and we're committed to doing that."

Rosenthal used to write a column for High Times.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens