'GURU OF GANJA' FREED

THE "Guru of Ganja" walked free yesterday after a US judge sentenced
him to one day in jail for a marijuana conviction.

Ed Rosenthal, 58, was found guilty in February of growing more than
100 plants in Oakland, California, and could have faced 60 years
behind bars.

Rosenthal had argued his actions were legal under a 1996 law passed by
California voters that permits marijuana use for medical purposes. He
also said he was acting as an agent for the city of Oakland's medical
marijuana programme.

But a district court judge, Charles Breyer, did not allow the jury to
hear those arguments. It found Rosenthal guilty, but some jurors said
they would have acquitted him if they had known he was growing the
plants for patients.

Rosenthal said: "Once the jury found out the whole truth, they agreed.
They repudiated their decision."