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.