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April 9, 2003

Medical Marijuana "Truth in Trials Act" to Be Introduced;

Press Conference April 10 with Reps. Farr, Rohrabacher, Frank, Juror from Ed Rosenthal Trial

WASHINGTON - April 9 - News Advisory:

In the wake of the federal conviction of medical marijuana grower Ed Rosenthal -- found guilty of felony marijuana cultivation charges by a jury that was not allowed to consider that the marijuana was for medical use by seriously ill patients and was grown with the express authorization of the city of Oakland, California -- U.S. Reps. Sam Farr (D-CA), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), and Barney Frank (D-MA) will introduce legislation to prevent such injustices in the future. The bill's introduction will be announced at a Capitol Hill press conference on Thursday, April 10, at 1:30 p.m. EDT. A satellite feed of press conference highlights will be available later in the afternoon.

WHAT: Press conference to announce the Truth in Trials Act.

WHO: U.S. Reps. Sam Farr (D-CA), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), and Barney Frank (D-MA); Marney Craig, member of the jury that convicted Ed Rosenthal of marijuana cultivation; Ashley Epis, 8-year-old daughter of medical marijuana grower Bryan Epis, who is currently serving a 10-year federal prison sentence; Valerie Corral, co-founder of the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana, which was raided by the Drug Enforcement Administration on Sept. 5, 2002; Robert Kampia, executive director, Marijuana Policy Project.

WHERE: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2200.

WHEN: Thursday, April 10, 1:30 p.m. EDT (please arrive early due to security precautions).

SATELLITE FEED: Highlights of the press conference will be available at the following times and coordinates:

3:30-3:45 p.m. EDT: Satellite SBS 6 Transponder 5 KU Analog. Downlink frequency: 11823 Horizontal. Audio will be on 6.2 and 6.8.

4:15-4:30 p.m. EDT: Satellite SBS 6 Transponder 5 KU Analog Downlink frequency: 11823 Horizontal. Audio will be on 6.2 and 6.8.

With 11,000 members nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP works to minimize the harm associated with marijuana -- both the consumption of marijuana and the laws that are intended to prohibit such use. For more information please visit http://www.mpp.org