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. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens