MMA Ref Josh Rosenthal Busted with $6 Million of Cannabis

According to the U.S. District Attorney’s office in Oakland, California, Josh Rosenthal, one of the best referees in MMA, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana.

Rosenthal, a regular referee used throughout the country for popular MMA organizations such as the UFC, Bellator, and former promotions Strikeforce and WEC, agreed to a plea deal in January after facing 10 years to life in prison.

10 years to life for a plant. Unreal.

A warehouse owned by Rosenthal and his associate was raided last year, with authorities finding roughly $6 million worth of cannabis, including 1,356 plants. The MMA veteran is scheduled to appear for sentencing May 17. MMA Junkie reports that

“[t]he government is recommending 37 months in jail, fines and five years of probation, during which  he would be subject to random searches, according to the agreement. Without a deal, he faced 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and a minimum of five years’ probation.”

This story is all too familiar. Rosenthal knowingly did something illegal to make money, but don’t most of us agree that the illegality of cannabis is ridiculous in the first place? Growing a harmless plant shouldn’t be grounds for life in prison.

Governments shouldn’t punish people for growing and using cannabis, rather, they should encourage citizens to grow and use cannabis as increasingly more studies, experiments, and reports continue to show the incredibly beneficial effects it has on the human mind and body.