cannabisnews.com: Drug Legalization Advocate Will Get Hearing Drug Legalization Advocate Will Get Hearing Posted by CN Staff on January 01, 2003 at 08:53:05 PT By Matthew Reilly, Star-Ledger Staff Source: Star-Ledger A federal judge yesterday ordered the state to show why a self- styled marijuana legalization activist shouldn't be returned to an early parole program that he was expelled from for calling for changes in the state's drug laws. U.S. District Judge Joseph Irenas, sitting in Camden, scheduled a "show cause" hearing for Edward Forchion for Jan. 21, just four days after Forchion is expected to learn whether he will be readmitted to the Intensive Supervised Parole program. Forchion, the self-proclaimed "New Jersey Weedman," is to appear before the three-judge ISP panel Jan. 17 for a continuation of a hearing that began Dec. 4. He is applying for readmission into the early release program after being kicked out for calling for changes in marijuana laws. If he is turned down there, he will be back before Irenas to learn whether the state violated his civil rights by incarcerating him for speaking out in favor of legalizing marijuana. Forchion, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, had served 16 months when he entered the ISP program last April. He was returned to jail after allegedly violating terms of his admission into the program by, among other things, advocating the legalization of marijuana. He allegedly filmed several public service announcements -- which never aired -- favoring changes in the state's drug laws. He was also charged with other violations of the terms of his ISP release, but Judge Irenas said he doubted whether Forchion would have been charged with other violations had he not also called for changes in the state's drug laws. Forchion has maintained he has not used marijuana since being incarcerated or while on parole, nor did he advocate its use. What he did advocate, he says, is a change in the laws governing marijuana use. Forchion is a practicing Rastafarian who used marijuana as part of his religious beliefs as well as for medicinal reasons. Irenas agreed there is a difference in what Forchion allegedly agreed to do as part of his ISP and why he was allegedly charged with a violation. "There is a distinction between marijuana use and encouraging a change in the laws governing the use of marijuana," Irenas said. "Advocating changes in the drug laws is hardly unusual around the country." Forchion, of Pemberton Township, Burlington County, pleaded guilty in September 2000 after he was charged with helping his brother and another person pick up 40 pounds of marijuana that had been shipped via Federal Express to Camden County in November 1997. Note: Judge rules Jersey must show why activist shouldn't be returned to parole program.Source: Star-Ledger (NJ)Author: Matthew Reilly, Star-Ledger Staff Published: Wednesday, January 01, 2003Copyright: 2003 Newark Morning Ledger CoContact: eletters starledger.comWebsite: http://www.nj.com/starledger/Related Articles & Web Sites:NJWeedman.comhttp://www.njweedman.com CRRH Video's - Weedman Takes Cause To TVhttp://www.crrh.org/hemptv/misc_weedman.htmlPot Protester Wins Hearing To Return To Programhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15083.shtml'Weedman' Seeks Relief from Higher Courthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14177.shtmlMarijuana Activist Fights New Jail Time http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14142.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Post Comment