Pubdate: Sat, 21 Oct 2006
Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI)
Copyright: 2006 Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Contact:  http://www.starbulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/196
Author: Leila Fujimori

JONATHAN HOWARD ADLER / 1952-2006

Marijuana Advocate Known for Legalization Antics

Big Island resident Jonathan Howard Adler, a colorful  proponent of 
marijuana, died at the Hilo Medical Center  from a heart attack 
Monday at age 54.

The California-born Adler lived in Mountain View and  devoted his 
life to legalizing marijuana. He ran for  governor four years ago and 
was convicted that same  year for commercial promotion of marijuana. 
He formed  the East Hawaii Branch of the Religion of Jesus 
Church  and founded the Hawaii Institute of Medical Marijuana.

"I admired his courage and ingenuity in being an  activist for 
cannabis as religious sacrament and for  healing medicine," said 
Roger Christie, who created the  Hawaii cannabis Ministry of the 
Religion of Jesus  Church.

Adler's antics included dressing as a Drug Enforcement  Agency 
helicopter pilot with mirrored sunglasses while  testifying before 
the Legislature, Christie recalled.  "He had a good sense of humor 
and had a great heart for  his passion," he said.

But Aaron Anderson, a member of another cannabis  church, Church of 
Realized Fantasies, said Adler was  detrimental to the cause.

"Jon had a lot of passion for what he was up to, but he  never quite 
got traction with his constituents," he  said. "He had a way of 
putting people off. You could  tell he was sincere, but overkill."

Adler ran for governor in 2002, but lost in the Natural  Law party 
primary to comedian Kaui "Bu La'ia" Hill.

In June 2002, Adler was convicted for federal  commercial promotion 
of marijuana for possessing 89  marijuana plants in 1998, but his 
name appeared on the  ballot since the law only forbids convicted 
felons from  filing to run for office and he had filed to run 
three  months before his conviction.

During the trial, Adler was seen going out in the  hallway to smoke pot.

Adler's attorney Michael Green said, "He created lots  and lots of 
enemies, and maybe did some good for people  that were sick."

When he first met Adler, Green was skeptical about his  convictions. 
"But the more I knew him, I really started  to believe that this guy 
really thought it served a  purpose for a lot of people," Green said. 
"His motives  were sincere.

"He took lots of heat and ... was willing to sacrifice  everything 
for what he says he believed in."

Daughter Joy Adler-Jewitt said her father was a warm,  loving person.

"He was an outstanding father," she said. "We are the  luckiest 
family in the world. As a father he was always  there."

Adler is survived by wife Nuansawat "Nuan"; sons  Jonathan J. "JJ" 
Jr. and Jett J.; daughters Joy A. and  Jacaranda R. and Juniper M. 
Adler; father Seymour;  brother Mitchell; sister Lisa; and a grandchild.

Services are scheduled at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Dodo  Mortuary. Call 
after 1 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.

Star-Bulletin reporter Rod Thompson contributed to this  report.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Elaine