ED ROSENTHAL SEEKS NEW TRIAL / LA TIMES FEATURES 'DRUG WAR REFUGEES'ED ROSENTHAL CONVICTED -- NEW TRIAL SOUGHTEd Rosenthal was convicted in federal court today of marijuana cultivation charges in front of an incredulous crowd, many of whom openly wept as the verdict was read.ED'S STATEMENT ABOUT HIS TRIAL AND CONVICTION

A federal jury in San Francisco has convicted marijuana author Ed Rosenthal on three counts of marijuana cultivation and conspiracy...STUDENT WINS BATTLE OVER POT PROJECT IN FAIRSAN JOSE -- An eighth-grader won her battle Wednesday to have her project on medicinal marijuana entered into her school science fair, nearly two weeks after it was banned. CNN Transcript

Airborne Peeping Cops Banished from Canada!COURT REJECTS INFRA-RED DRUG SEARCHThe Ontario Court of Appeal extended the right of privacy to intrusive technological advances Monday, acquitting a man whose hydroponic marijuana operation was detected by police who flew overhead with infra-red equipment.TIME MAGAZINE PROMOTING NEW GATEWAY THEORY

DID TRACY GRANT LIE TO OBTAIN SEARCH WARRANTS?U.S. JUDGE FINDS VINDICTIVE PROSECUTION USED TO PROTECT SUSPECTED ROGUE NARKSACRAMENTO -- A federal judge found evidence of vindictiveness on the part of the U.S. attorney's office in fraudulently obtaining a marijuana indictment to cover up suspected illegal acts by Placer County Deputy Tracy Grant. Investigative reporter Pat McCartney files a special report about this explosive case.

BREAKING NEWS: JUDGE DENIES GAG ORDER IN ROSENTHAL CASE!JUDGE WEIGHS GAG ORDER AGAINST EDSAN FRANCISCO -- Fear of frontpage newspaper articles, radio news interviews and television reports "contaminating the jury," prompted a U.S. Attorney to ask for a gag order on Ed Rosenthal.MED MARIJUANA GROUPS POSTING ROADSIDE BILLBOARDS

DAN FORBES: TOP OFFICIALS USING PUBLIC FUNDS TO OPPOSE VOTER INITIATIVES B.C. -- A POT-FRIENDLY, POT-PROFITABLE PROVINCEA new poll has found British Columbia is the most pot-friendly province in Canada.STUDY SAYS WAR ON DRUGS IS FUTILEResearchers say costly cures are far more damaging than the disease.

BRIAN CARLISLE CELEBRATES ANOTHER COURT VICTORY!THE STATE IN THE POT DENS OF THE NATIONJustice Minister Martin Cauchon returns from Europe, where public toking is accepted, determined to introduce decrim legislation.THE TRIAL OF ED ROSENTHALA federal judge is blocking a jury from hearing evidence that could free Ed Rosenthal, who is facing 20 years in prison.

TOKE UP FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY!ON DRIVING WHILE DRUGGED"Last year, a researcher at the University of Toronto reviewed a dozen studies, and concluded that marijuana is nowhere near as likely to impair a driver as alcohol is. For one thing, the drugs have opposite effects: Alcohol causes drivers to speed up and drive recklessly, but marijuana causes drivers to slow down and take more care."

HOW TOBACCO CAUSES CANCER WHILE CANNABIS PROTECTS US REPORT FROM THE FRONT LINESThe Kubbys were in court Tuesday to test the historic decision by Judge Sidney Lederman who found Canada's pot laws unconstitutional. Sechelt Judge Moon cringed at the mention of the Lederman decision, but agreed to a special hearing on January 27th to examine the RCMP's war on sick people.Related stories:SIX MONTHS TO FIX MEDPOT REGS

GUEST COMMENTARY BY C.C. EDITOR DANA LARSEN!JUDGE TELLS FEDS TO PROVIDE LEGAL POTPoor marijuana access rules force sick to use drug dealers, judge says.CANADIAN PM PROMISES SWIFT ACTION ON DECRIM"The PM is strong on this," said a spokesman from the Prime Minister's Office. "The government is determined to address this issue."