Ed Rosenthal Trial Begins May 14 - Virginia Resner on why this case is important

Count Down to Trial -- Jury Selection Begins May 14, 2007

  Please take a look at this letter from Virginia Resner, President of
Green Aid and pass it on to other interested parties. Thanks, Ed.

  Dear Friends:

  At the last two hearings, on April 13 and 20, Judge Breyer urged the
prosecutor to drop Ed Rosenthal's case. The judge was trying to prevent
the feds from marching straight ahead into a quagmire, just like in Iraq.
Using the same wisdom they have shown on other issues, they decided to
forge ahead.

  Trial begins in two weeks. We need to raise $100,000.

  We are asking for your help because Ed's case will change marijuana
policy for all of us. This is a totally political case: what's on trial is
the future of medical marijuana. The court has already agreed that Ed
cannot receive any more time, since he has already served his sentence.
Federal prosecutors are hoping to use this trial to close all the
dispensaries in California. If Ed wins acquittal, it can change their
misguided policies.

  We need your help right now to send a message to Washington. Ed is being
defended by a dynamic team of attorneys mentored by Tony Serra, who share
his disdain for these cruel and unjust policies. Even though they are
working at a reduced rate, funds are still needed for courtroom
transcripts, expert witnesses, investigators and all the other resources
necessary to explain the whole truth to the jury. The publicity campaign
is also expensive but necessary to educate the media and the public about
what's really at stake.

  Ed's case has already backfired on the government. During the first
trial, public interest in medicinal marijuana skyrocketed. The media was
extremely favorable and supportive. It was a huge victory for patients,
providers, and the drug policy reform movement. Keith Stroup, founder of
NORML said, "The world changes when people like Ed Rosenthal stand up and
fight back."

  Why? Because this is not a criminal case, it's a political one. Ed's
already served his sentence. With this in mind, the trial is a farce
similar to that of the Chicago Seven or the Scopes Monkey Trial. The
Chicago Seven changed how people viewed Vietnam-era protestors. The Scopes
Monkey Trial changed how people viewed the teaching of Darwin's theory of
evolution, in a courtroom battle that pitted science against myth and
superstition. That's exactly what we want to accomplish when Ed goes to
court May 14 -- show that the government's position on medical marijuana
not only lacks any medical or scientific credibility, it hurts people.

  This trial will convince more people that the government is spending
billions of dollars to maintain a policy that is out-of-touch, cruel and
has no rational basis. At the same time we are protecting the democratic
process in the 12 states that have made the compassionate decision to
allow medical marijuana.

  We've all wanted to change the laws for a long time. By making a generous
contribution to Green Aid today, your funds will go directly to this
upcoming trial. Raise some funds for Ed, and he'll make sure the public
takes notice.

  Make a donation now at http://www.green-aid.com or you can send a check
to Postal Mail Box #172, 484 Lake Park Ave., Oakland, CA 94610

  We need contributions small and large. All are appreciated. If you can
afford them consider these award levels.
  Guardian: $1000
  "One Percenter": $3000 (this is 1% of the total cost of the trial of
$300,000)
  Hero: $5000 or more.

  Thank you for your continuing support. We can't win without you!

  Don't think of it as helping just Ed. He's is on the front line to help
all of us. Help him help you.

  Sincerely,

  Virginia Resner
  President of Green Aid

  "Most people would have backed down, but not Ed. He's in this to the end.
We owe him for that." --Jack Herer

  "Ed's not a flight risk. He's in this case till the bitter end." --
Magistrate Chin:

  "Most people considering their circumstances for one reason or another
are forced to give in under the weight of government pressure. I have the
privilege and opportunity to be able to stand for all the people who've
been harassed and hounded by the government."
  -- Ed Rosenthal