cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Advocate Stays in Jail Marijuana Advocate Stays in Jail Posted by CN Staff on December 06, 2002 at 08:43:29 PT By Mike Mathis, BCT Staff Writer Source: Burlington County Times Marijuana-legalization advocate Ed "njweedman" Forchion will remain in Burlington County Jail here into early next year.A hearing Wednesday in Morristown, Morris County, at which a three-judge panel was to determine whether the Pemberton Township resident violated terms of the supervisory program in which he is enrolled was adjourned after three hours without a ruling, officials said. The hearing will reconvene Jan. 17 in Flemington, Hunterdon County.The hearing will determine whether Forchion should be released from jail into a parole program for a second time or be forced to serve the remainder of his 10-year sentence on marijuana-related charges.The decision will rest on whether the judges determine Forchion publicly advocated marijuana use."Our contention all along is that he did not advocate marijuana use," said John Vincent Saykanic, Forchion's attorney. "Advocating a change in the laws is not advocating use."Forchion has been jailed since August when he was accused of violating provisions of the Intensive Supervision Program in which participants are released early from prison but must remain drug-free and abide by other regulations.Forchion has said he was told he violated the program by taping three television commercials in which he advocated the legalization of marijuana, which would be a violation of a clause in the program that prohibits him from openly calling for the legalization of marijuana. However, the commercials never aired.Forchion has long maintained his First Amendment rights are being violated because he cannot freely state his beliefs.Forchion was charged with helping his brother and another man pick up a shipment of 40 pounds of marijuana at Bellmawr Industrial Park on Nov. 24, 1997. The marijuana was shipped from a supplier in Arizona via Federal Express.He was tried on charges of marijuana distribution and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in October 2000 but pleaded guilty to those charges and two unrelated charges during his trial.He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in December 2000 and served 16 months in prison before he was admitted into the Intensive Supervision Program.Under terms of the program, Forchion must refrain from smoking marijuana and must obtain a job. He also must be tested regularly to demonstrate he is not using marijuana.Source: Burlington County Times (NJ)Author: Mike Mathis, BCT Staff Writer Published: December 06, 2002Copyright: 2002 Calkins Newspapers. Inc.Website: http://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/Contact: http://www.phillyburbs.com/feedback/content_bct.shtmlRelated Articles & Web Site:NJWeedman.comhttp://www.njweedman.com Weedman Takes Cause To Televisionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13759.shtmlSmokey and The Bandit http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12992.shtml'Weedman' Protests Outside Courthouse http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12987.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Post Comment