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.