Pubdate: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 Source: Maui News, The (HI) Contact: 2002 The Maui News Website: http://www.mauinews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2259 Note: For more on medical cannabis and cannabis eradication in Hawaii go to http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Hawaii GUBERNATORIAL HOPEFUL WINS HIS POT BACK Big Isle Candidate Uses Marijuana For Treatment Of Pain HILO (AP) -- One of Hawaii's 20 candidates for governor has the right to get back nearly an ounce of marijuana seized by police from his wife last October, a judge has ruled. Jonathan Adler, a Natural Law Party candidate convicted last month of possessing more than 50 marijuana plants and drug paraphernalia, has to wait until Monday for the court to release the 27 grams of marijuana Adler contends he uses for treatment of chronic pain. Although Adler insisted the marijuana is his, prosecutors used it as evidence in a July 11 trial in which his wife, Nuansawat, was convicted of misdemeanor possession, resulting in a $25 fine. He tried to recover the marijuana on Tuesday after Judge Jeffrey Choi signed the order for its return, but court officials said they were bound by a rule that all evidence be held 30 days after the end of a trial in case of an appeal. Adler said he's eligible under the state's medical marijuana law to grow and use a limited amount of the plant for frequent pain he suffers as the result of a head injury suffered in a traffic accident. Nuansawat Adler is registered with the state as a caregiver for her husband, who is registered to use medical marijuana. After his arrest in 1998, when police found 80 marijuana plants on his property, Adler missed a court date and was picked up on a bench warrant. When his wife showed up at the police cellblock to bring Adler his medicine, which included marijuana, she was arrested for possession. Adler, who also contends marijuana is a sacrament the Religion of Jesus Church of which he is a pastor, said a legalized marijuana industry would help the state out of its economic slump. He faces up to 60 years in prison on the drug-possession conviction when sentenced Aug. 26, but his attorney said probation is more likely. Adler was charged in September 1999 but a trial in August 2001 resulted in a hung jury and a mistrial. A nonjury trial was held in January and 3rd Circuit Judge Greg K. Nakamura found him guilty in June. Adler filed nomination papers April 1 to run for governor as a candidate for the Natural Law Party. He previously had sought to run as a member of the Green Party, but was rejected by party leadership. Election officials said that when Adler is sentenced on the felony charges he will be barred from office. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk