Hawaii island marijuana advocate Roger Christie lost another attempt Tuesday to persuade a judge to reconsider granting him bail as he awaits trial on federal marijuana possession and distribution charges.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin S.C. Chang said the fact that Christie’s trial has been pushed back to January, that he is now married to co-defendant Sherry St. Cyr and that his mother is gravely ill in Colo­rado were not substantial enough reasons to reconsider his order of nearly two years ago denying Christie release.

Christie has been in custody since his arrest July 8, 2010.

All 13 of his co-defendants, including five who have pleaded guilty, have been free on unsecured signature bonds since at least July 12, 2010.

Federal prosecutor Jonathan Loo suggested that Christie’s motive for wanting release is to promote his view that he should not be prosecuted because he used marijuana as religious sacrament in his The Cannabis Ministry in downtown Hilo.

Loo said people have been handing out fliers at the federal detention center where Christie is in custody advocating for his release. He said Christie has also contacted National Geographic to do a story on his life.

Christie’s lawyer Thomas Otake said it was National Geographic who contacted Christie.

Chang ordered Christie detained in July 2010 because he said based on Christie’s previous behavior, he would likely continue to have and distribute marijuana if he was released and is therefore a danger to the community.

Christie appealed to two District Court judges and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, who all upheld Chang’s order.

The government had submitted evidence that Christie continued to operate his ministry after the Drug Enforcement Administration seized marijuana and related products from the ministry, Christie’s home and the homes of his alleged marijuana suppliers in a raid on March 10, 2010. The evidence included wiretap recordings and surveillance of the ministry.