Pubdate: Sat, 23 Apr 2005
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Copyright: 2005 Houston Chronicle Publishing Company Division, Hearst Newspaper
Contact:  http://www.chron.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/198
Author: Allan Turner
Cited: Houston NORML http://www.houstonnorml.org/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Ed+Rosenthal
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

ROSENTHAL TO BE GUEST SPEAKER AT NORML FESTIVAL

Ed Rosenthal, the high priest of California's medical marijuana
movement, will be the featured speaker Saturday at Houston 420 Fest,
an evening of music and political advocacy sponsored by the National
Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

Rosenthal, author of more than 12 books on the use and cultivation of
medical marijuana, gained national attention two years ago when he was
convicted of a federal charge for growing the drug for medical use in
California. His prosecution came after the U.S. Supreme Court
unanimously found the state's Proposition 215, which provided for such
use of the drug, unconstitutional.

Rosenthal's lawyers contended that he had acted legally under a local
medical marijuana law in Oakland, Calif. In June 2003, a federal judge
sentenced him to one day in prison, fined him $1,000 and placed him
under court supervision for three years.

Saturday's event, which will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Last Concert
Cafe, 1403 Nance, also will feature performances by eight local bands,
said 420 Fest spokesman Dean Becker, who hosts a weekly pro-marijuana
program on KPFT-FM. Rosenthal is scheduled to speak at 6 p.m.

Saturday's festival marks the closing segment of the annual three-day
event.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake