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.