cannabisnews.com: Police Return Marijuana to Candidate Police Return Marijuana to Candidate Posted by CN Staff on August 13, 2002 at 18:57:02 PT By Hunter Bishop, Tribune-Herald Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald In a reversal of what usually happens, police gave Jonathan Adler marijuana Monday morning. About an ounce of dried marijuana buds in a Tupperware container that was taken from Adler's wife, Nuansawat, 10 months ago was returned to Adler at the state courthouse in Hilo under order from Third District Court Judge Jeffrey Choi.Adler, 50, was the fourth Big Island resident in recent weeks to get back marijuana that had been seized by police. All four residents had state - issued permits to possess and use marijuana for medical reasons. The longtime marijuana advocate had tried to get the marijuana back last week after getting the court order Tuesday, but was told he needed to wait until Monday because the marijuana was evidence in a criminal case. Evidence is normally kept for 30 days in the event of an appeal.Adler's marijuana was seized after he was arrested on a bench warrant for failing to make a court appearance for a 1998 marijuana charge in which police seized 98 plants from his Hawaiian Paradise Park home. Police instructed Nuansawat by telephone to bring her husband's medicine to the police station. When she brought the marijuana buds instead of Adler's Marinol, a marijuana extract, she was arrested for possession. She was later convicted of a misdemeanor and fined $25.Adler said all the marijuana taken was returned to him "and now it's all cured. They made my stuff better just by keeping it." Afterward, he smoked some in the courthouse parking lot.Adler has a state medical permit to use the otherwise illegal drug and claims he smokes it to ease pain from a head injury suffered in an automobile accident. In the past Adler has also sought to use marijuana legally to treat insomnia and asthma.Adler also claims a legal exemption that would allow him to use marijuana as a religious sacrament. The religious exemption was rejected in June however by Third Circuit Court Judge Greg Nakamura, who convicted Adler of a felony charge of commercial promotion of marijuana. Adler is due to be sentenced Aug. 26, and he plans to appeal the judge's ruling.Adler is also on the Hawaii ballot as a Natural Law party candidate for governor, but his candidacy may be in question if sentenced on the felony charge. Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald (HI)Author: Hunter Bishop, Tribune-HeraldPublished: Tuesday, August 13, 2002Copyright: 2002 Hawaii Tribune HeraldContact: htrib hawaiitribune-herald.comWebsite: http://www.hilohawaiitribune.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Adler for Governorhttp://www.adler4gov.comHawaii Medical Marijuana Institutehttp://www.medijuana.comAdvocate Will Go To Court To Pick Up Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13683.shtmlGubernatorial Hopeful Wins His Pot Backhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13676.shtmlPolice To Return Pot - Again http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13662.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by FoM on August 14, 2002 at 11:27:06 PT Jonathan How can we lose with dedicated people like you! Thanks so much! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Rev Jonathan Adler on August 14, 2002 at 11:09:37 PT: Comments about Myself! I think the authorities are sacred. I think they are vulnerable and open for dis-mantling th old archaic laws and policies that rip us off. I am pleased to announce the election in Hawaii can produce the nation's first legal pot smoking and cultivating Governor. See adler4gov.com and support our cause as best you can. Box 742 Hilo, Hi. 96721 Thanks and Peace, Rev. Jonathan Adler ADLER4GOV [ Post Comment ] Post Comment