The case

Deputized by his city. Arrested by the federal government.

From the producers of NECTARBALL: The Story of Cannabis, this short documentary follows the landmark court case of Ed Rosenthal — cannabis advocate, publisher, and Oakland native.

Ed became a hero to many for helping get medical cannabis to patients who needed it, especially people living with AIDS. The City of Oakland had officially deputized him to grow cannabis under California’s Proposition 215. In 2002, federal agents arrested him for cultivation anyway.

The film takes you into the courtroom drama that followed, and into the conflict between state and federal law that put a man facing life in prison in front of a jury that wasn’t allowed to know why he did what he did.

What the film examines

Three things the jury didn’t get to weigh

• Exhibit A

  His authorization

  The judge barred the defense from telling jurors that local officials had authorized Ed to grow.

• Exhibit B

  His purpose

  Jurors never learned that the cannabis was for patients’ health.

• Exhibit C

  The two laws

  California law said one thing, federal law another, and Ed was caught between them.

The verdict, and the outrage

When the full story came out, jurors spoke up

The jury convicted Ed without knowing the critical facts. Once the whole story came to light, several jurors said publicly that they regretted the verdict and were outraged by the limits placed on the trial.

Through intimate interviews and powerful visuals, ED looks at judicial overreach, the clash between state and federal law, and the resilience of people who risk everything for justice. It’s a gripping account of a pivotal moment in the fight for cannabis legalization — and a call for transparency and fairness in our courts.