Pot proponent finds
party for governor run

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By Rod Thompson
rthompson@starbulletin.com

HILO >> Big Island marijuana legalization advocate Jonathan Adler has filed to run for governor as a candidate of the Natural Law Party.

The state Green Party rejected Adler in January, telling him his primary goal was promoting himself rather than Green principles.

Lauri Clegg, acting chairwoman of the Natural Law Party of Hawaii, said her party does not endorse Adler, but Natural Law bylaws are not strict enough to reject him.

Adler has focused in recent years on medical and religious marijuana use. That "is not a big issue for us," Clegg said.

Natural Law supports decriminalization of marijuana but generally discourages drug use because it does not contribute to individual development, Clegg said. The party seeks solutions in accordance with natural law, such as preventive health care, she said.

Clegg says Adler does help the party in that it needed a statewide candidate now to stay on the ballot in 2004.

Adler said he picked a party, rather than run as a nonpartisan, because it helps him get through the primary election.

As a partisan he needs only one vote to proceed to the general election. As a nonpartisan he would need 10 percent of all votes cast or as many votes as the lowest-polling partisan.