cannabisnews.com: Judge Finds Ambiguity in Jury Instruction Judge Finds Ambiguity in Jury Instruction Posted by FoM on August 29, 2001 at 21:43:47 PT By Rod Thompson Source: Star-Bulletin Nearly eight hours into jury deliberations in the trial of Jonathan Adler, who claims a religious right to marijuana, Judge Greg Nakamura proposed changing a jury instruction yesterday. Defense attorney Michael Glenn objected vigorously, saying that would be like twisting jurors' arms.Nakamura said the present jury instruction regarding religion is unclear. Deputy prosecutor Kevin Hashizaki sided with the judge, saying courts can correct errors in jury instructions. Nakamura ended the day without ruling.Police seized 89 marijuana plants at Adler's home in 1998 and charged him with commercial promotion of marijuana.Adler testified that Constitutional freedom of religion allows him to use marijuana.He testified he has been a minister in the Religion of Jesus Church, which mandates the use of marijuana, since 1974. Even if the jury finds that the prosecution proved its case against him, it must also decide if Adler's religious beliefs are sincere and if his church truly mandates marijuana.If it answers "yes," further court proceedings must decide if the state can limit his religion.If it answers "no," there could be a problem, Nakamura realized yesterday.Because of the wording of the instruction, which Nakamura wrote, "no" might mean the jury thinks Adler is not sincere, or it might mean the jury can't decide, the judge said.Glenn told the judge that court rules say he can give the jury new instructions only if they ask for them, which they haven't.Glenn also quoted from a case in which the trial judge refused to "invade the province of the jury" with new instructions, since the jury had not asked for any.That judge, who went unnamed in Glenn's legal reference book, also said, "Sending in just one instruction is like asking the jury to reconsider and sort of arm twisting, so I will not send in just one instruction."The length of jury deliberation so far, eight hours, normally is seen as a good sign for the defendant. It suggests jurors may not agree on a verdict, and a hung jury may result.Glenn said Adler doesn't want a hung jury.He wants a not-guilty verdict setting him free or a guilty verdict allowing further discussion of the constitutional issue.Note: The defense opposes his proposal to clarify religion's legal links.Complete Title: Judge in Big Isle Marijuana Case Finds Ambiguity in Jury InstructionSource: Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI)Author: Rod ThompsonPublished: Wednesday, August 29, 2001Copyright: 2001 Honolulu Star-BulletinContact: letters starbulletin.comWebsite: http://www.starbulletin.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institutehttp://www.medijuana.com/Religion Complicates Hilo Drug Trialhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10692.shtmlAdler Faces New Marijuana Charges http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10289.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by The GCW on August 30, 2001 at 05:12:13 PT BINGO Brothers and neighbors,This is what it is all about. The very beginning. The most complex comes down to the single common denominator. The Bible starts and ends w/plants, the Bible is written in GREEN. What ever happened in the past is the past. The Bible was a new beginning,,, of something. Right up front God informs us the things we are to know first. Plants are good. In all Godly respects. Gen. 1:11-12 & 29-30.It may be well to know that cannabis is not THE sacrament, but rather TIME is the sacrament well pleasing to Christ God. Gods currancy is time, and would like a tithe of your time. Not a tithe of your money. Give Our perfect Father some of your TIME. He would so cherish that.Cannabis may aid in making that time available... Cannnabis may well feed the HOly Spirit. It may in fact feed the HOLY SPIRIT OF TRUTH. I sence it is all going to come down to plants.The GREEN COLLAR WORKER. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by MDG on August 29, 2001 at 23:42:55 PT Whoops...the link doesn't work. Okay, I ran out of space, apparently.Here's the link:http://abcnews.go.com/sections/Downtown/2020/Downtown_010829_marijuana_feature.html [ Post Comment ] Post Comment