THE MANDELA OF MARIJUANA?

A blatant miscarriage of U.S. justice could make Ed Rosenthal, the
self-styled "Guru of Ganja," into the Nelson Mandela of the international
marijuana movement. U.S. embassies in Oslo, Paris and Norway have already
seen demonstrations on his behalf and more are expected as his June 4th
sentencing date approaches.

Rosenthal, who has authored several books and articles on cannabis
cultivation, was recently convicted in San Francisco on federal marijuana
cultivation and conspiracy charges.

The case was laced with controversy from the beginning as the charges
stemmed from Rosenthal's deputation by the city of Oakland to grow medical
cannabis for critically ill patients under the state's medical marijuana law.

Under strict orders from U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, the jury was
not told that Rosenthal was growing marijuana as "an officer" for the city
of Oakland's medical marijuana program.

The Oakland program and similar programs throughout California are
authorized under the state's 1996 voter-approved Proposition 215, which
allows the sick and dying to smoke or grow marijuana with a doctor's
recommendation.

Federal authorities do not recognize this law, nor do they think much of
medical marijuana.

"There is no such thing as medical marijuana," said Drug Enforcement
Administration spokesman Richard Meyer.

Things took an even more bizarre turn when five of the jurors appeared with
Rosenthal on the courthouse steps to denounce their own verdict, saying
they had been deceived by the prosecution.

They were outraged to discover after the trial that Rosenthal had been
working for the city of Oakland.

"I feel like I made the biggest mistake in my life," said juror Marney
Craig. "We convicted a man who is not a criminal."

Rosenthal told supporters that he had "no regrets....Both the jury and I
were victims of persecution, of an illegal government action."

Presently free on a $200,000 (U.S.) cash bond, he now faces five to 20
years in prison.