2002-02-25 17:07:04+00 by Dan Lyke 3 comments
Pot bust yields orchids. Ed Rosenthal, who helped found NORML and wrote a growing advice column for High Times, was recently busted. When cops entered his warehouse, they found flowers.
"The feds came looking for pot, but they found a lot of orchids," he said. "I just love plants -- even illegal ones."
[ related topics: Drugs ]
comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):
#Comment made: 2002-02-25 21:35:25+00 by: Shawn
I'm confused. Was he growing pot or wasn't he? Did they find any at his house? If not, then what was he arrested on? While an interesting biography, the article is extremely vague on the facts of his arrest.
#Comment made: 2002-02-25 21:59:35+00 by: Larry Burton
They found the pot growing in a warehouse. From what I've read, he was at the warehouse from time to time as a hands on consultant and he hasn't denied that involvement. I think he has even made statements that could implicate him as a co-conspirator to grow and harvest marijuana at the very least. I don't think there was anything illegal found at his residence or in his personal garden or hothouse.
What I'm wondering is this, if he has written book after book and article after article explaining all the steps one needs to take to be a successful marijuana gardener, how would that be different from him standing in the field of one of his readers giving the same advice while gesturing with his hand? Are citizens required to tell the DEA about pot fields they know about? It appears he did have plenty of knowledge about every aspect of the growing taking place in the warehouse and was even conducting research on the different strains and how they affected cancer patient's different symptoms. I suppose his biggest crime may have been providing scientific proof that marijuana does have some beneficial medicinal uses.
#Comment made: 2002-02-25 22:17:01+00 by: Dan Lyke
My impression is that Larry's explanation is correct. I think he was arrested as part of his involvement with the Oakland Medical Marijuana club. Whether he had any marijuana at his house or in his personal growing space is probably completely irrelevant to the case the feds are building. And this is a federal case, no local DA would touch the current attacks on medical marijuana groups in the Bay Area.