Pubdate: Fri, 6 Dec 2002 Source: Maui News, The (HI) Contact: 2002 The Maui News Website: http://www.mauinews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2259 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Jonathan+Adler Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/spirit.htm (Spiritual or Sacramental) MARIJUANA ADVOCATE MUST SERVE 6 MONTHS HILO (AP) -- A marijuana advocate and former gubernatorial candidate must serve his full six-month term on felony drug charges before he can be released from jail, a Big Island judge has ruled. Jonathan Adler, 50, was convicted of marijuana charges in two separate cases and was sentenced in September to concurrent one-year prison sentences. At the sentencing, Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura said Adler would have to serve only half that time. On Tuesday, Nakamura denied a request filed by Adler's attorney asking the judge to release him three months early. Adler, who says he requires marijuana for chronic pain and religious purposes, was convicted in June of possessing more than 50 marijuana plants and of possessing drug paraphernalia. The charges were filed in September 1999. At the time of his sentencing, Adler was a candidate for governor as a Natural Law Party candidate. After he was sentenced, he became ineligible to hold office. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk