CALIFORNIA 'GANJA GURU' SENTENCED TO DAY IN JAIL

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Amid cheers from supporters, marijuana
advocate Ed Rosenthal was sentenced on Wednesday to a single day in
jail for growing the drug in violation of federal law even though
California allows its cultivation for medical use.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said he handed down the light
sentence because of the "extraordinary circumstances" of the case --
referring to the fact that growing marijuana for medical purposes was
legal under a voter-approved California law.

But during the trial, the judge had not allowed Rosenthal, a
58-year-old self described "ganja guru," to present evidence that he
had grown the marijuana as an officer of the city of Oakland, which
had a medical marijuana program.

As a result, a jury found Rosenthal guilty of violating federal law
with several jurors trying afterward to recant the verdict when they
found out the circumstances of the case,

Breyer sentenced Rosenthal to a single day in prison but gave him
credit for time served so he walked out of court a free man. He also
fined Rosenthal $1,300.