EDITOR: Ed Rosenthal, a founder of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), and author of several books on marijuana, was convicted Friday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco of marijuana cultivation and conspiracy. He faces up to 85 years in prison.
One of the most striking inconsistencies that exist with regard to this conviction is the fact that under strict orders from U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, Mr. Rosenthal was not able to tell the jury he was growing marijuana as "an officer" for Oakland's medical-marijuana program.
Despite California voters' passage of Proposition 215 in 1996, federal authorities refuse to recognize this law. Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman Richard Meyer was quoted as saying, "There is no such thing as medical marijuana" and, "We're Americans first, Californians second." Perhaps these are his perceptions, but if I'm not mistaken, California was first part of Mexico. It was not until after the end of the Mexican-American War, which ended in 1848, that California was annexed by the United States and then granted statehood in 1850. I wonder if Puerto Rico, which has its own long, rich history and culture, ever became the 51st state, whether its residents would consider themselves Americans first, and Puerto Ricans second. I'll bet Mr. Meyer would think they should.
While I did not vote for or against this law, as I was not yet a resident of California, I find the attitudes and statements by Mr. Meyer and the DEA, and the gag order edicts by Judge Breyer to be Orwellian and an affront to the freedom of Californians and Americans in general. They have in effect indicated that the votes of millions of Americans do not matter in the least, and that only the policies put in place and enforced by those for whom no vote was ever cast are worthy of consideration.
This is the same attitude displayed by John Ashcroft and the Department of Justice with their ongoing battle against Oregonians' passage of legal physician assisted suicide. If you ask me, those working for our government: DEA agents & spokesmen, U.S District & Supreme Court Justices, and Attorneys General should be working toward protecting and ensuring our freedom, not fighting and discounting it.
Daniel Wells
Tracy