cannabisnews.com: He's a Weedman With a Mission He's a Weedman With a Mission Posted by CN Staff on January 04, 2004 at 08:21:21 PT By Monica Yant Kinney, Inquirer Columnist Source: Philadelphia Inquirer Coming soon to a candidate's debate and courthouse near you: Ed Forchion, the professional provocateur who just might be the most persistent pothead on the planet.Surely, you remember Forchion.He's the "N.J. Weedman." Perhaps you've heard he's running for Congress. Again.He's a candidate for the U.S. Marijuana Party, which has one and only issue: to legalize pot.Or maybe you're familiar with Forchion's legal affairs.Right now, he has several cases winding their way through the state and federal court system.He's appealing his conviction in 2000 for possessing 40 pounds of pot with the intent to distribute.He's suing the state for $4 million for locking him up just for speaking his mind while on parole.Forchion sued officials who stymied his efforts to legally change his name to NJWeedman.com and use it on election ballots.He's also challenging the state law requiring most convicted criminals and parolees to submit to DNA tests - and fighting contempt charges for refusing to make his own deposit in the DNA database.Not that Forchion didn't give the government another option.Last fall, he wrote Gov. McGreevey, inviting him to kiss his behind and "retrieve the DNA from your lips."Usually, the Weedman is a mellow fellow. But ever since he got out of prison, he's been a man on a mission."I want," he says, "to ruin the laws that ruined me."Up in smoke The Weedman's ire, and inspiration, can be traced to the day he was busted for hooking his brother up with an Arizona dealer who shipped 40 pounds of pot to Jersey by Fed Ex.It was 1997. Back then, he was just Ed Forchion, husband, father, long-haul trucker, ex-Marine.He loved to travel, fish, gamble and lavish his family.And he loved to smoke pot.Because of how it relaxes him.And because, as a Rastafarian with asthma, he believes he has the religious and medical rights to do so."I was living what I considered a normal life," he said. "I was below the radar, I was 'incognegro.' "The arrest brought his alternative lifestyle to light.The trial, conviction and sentence - he took a plea, but still got 10 years in prison - cost Forchion everything.His driver's license. His 18-wheeler. His house. His manhood. All, gone.Before, he says, he earned more than $100,000 a year hauling produce coast-to-coast.Now, his wife is the breadwinner, working two jobs to support their kids and keep up their Browns Mills home.After three years in prison and on parole, Forchion's a free man again.Free to clock part-time hours at a gas station. Free to focus on his debts.And free to stew about feeling more like a victim, than a perpetrator, of the nation's war on drugs."I've done my sentence and my parole, I should be done," he gripes. "But I can't go back to my old life. It's gone."To be a mellow fellow Forchion realizes how he looks to outsiders.Like a self-serving media whore.Like a man who thinks the laws of the land don't apply to him.Like a thorn in the side of government who cries foul when the government pricks back."You don't have to agree with what I say," he points out. "But how can they throw me in jail for saying it?"Just before Christmas, he pulled one of his regular stunts for the last time, smoking a joint in front of Independence Hall to get arrested.From now on, he'll focus on his lawsuits, some of which have support from the ACLU and other legal minds."He's proven himself to be a sufficiently accurate assessor of his rights," said Mark Fury, a South Jersey lawyer appointed to represent Forchion on the DNA law case.The Weedman doesn't expect to win millions or elected office. And he knows he could wind up back in jail.But maybe by agitating, he'll persuade a judge to tweak a law or two.And then, the "peaceful, patriotic pothead" can go back to being his mellow self again.Monica Yant Kinney writes Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)Author: Monica Yant Kinney, Inquirer ColumnistPublished: January 4, 2004Copyright: 2004 Philadelphia Newspapers IncContact: Inquirer.Letters phillynews.comWebsite: http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/Related Articles & Web Site:NJWeedman.comhttp://www.njweedman.com ‘Weedman’ Set To Ruin The Lawhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15676.shtmlNJ Weedman Wins Right to Advocate Reform http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15336.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #19 posted by FoM on January 12, 2004 at 08:48:11 PT I Wish Ed Good Luck I hope he doesn't have to go back to jail again. http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread18083.shtml#17 [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by jose melendez on January 12, 2004 at 03:52:31 PT process honorably due from: http://www.geocities.com/rgmillenky/What I would like to ask of every responsible citizen is please contact this self-styled Draconian Solomon (there's a dichotomy for you) and let him know that his personal viewpoint should not cloud his professional and that his bias should not be imposed on any people of a free nation. Let him know that Justice should mean just that! Do not allow this egregious practice to perpetuate, for just as easily as this system abused me, it could just as easily abuse anyone of you. from: http://www.gunlawsuits.org/docket/docket.asp Robert G. Millenky headed the Camden County Office of Counsel which filed a lawsuit in federal court in New Jersey against 17 gun manufacturers and distributors.The county sought to recover for harm suffered and to force the gun industry to reform its distribution and sales practices. In 1997, firearms caused the deaths of 36 people in the County, and were used in 74 robberies and 59 incidents of domestic violence.The case was appealed to U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. In a ruling March 11, 2003, in James v. Arcadia et. al, the state court decided that the Third Circuit had erroneously interpreted New Jersey law and public policy, and allowed claims of negligence and public nuisance against gun manufacturers to proceed in that case. Perhaps the good judge will recognize that war on Americans over Cannabis is an unlawful restraint of trade that violates well established antitrust Constitutional and common sense laws.from: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SantaBarbaraSocialJustice/message/1533?source=1>Today the MOVE organization went to Camden County Court for a >hearing to uphold the restraining order against John Gilbride, issued >after >Gilbride pushed Alberta Africa on Tuesday, August 27, thereby almost >fracturing her wrist. Judge Millenky heard two and a half hours of >testimony about Gilbride's abuse of Alberta and her son and determined >that the >restraining order would not be upheld and that the Philadelphia Family >Court's ruling by Judge Shelley Robbins New granting Gilbride partial >custody of Alberta's son would stand. He stated that the witnesses' >testimony was conflicting, as to details such as where exactly Gilbride >stood during the altercation. >Gilbride, of course, lied and denied ever touching or abusing >Alberta or her son. > >Four people aside from Alberta saw and testified to Gilbride's >abuse. Alberta sat in court with her wrist wrapped in an ace bandage to > >help the injury heal, and this judge still decided that there was enough > >doubt in his mind about the abuse that a small child could be entrusted >to this man.from: http://www.indybay.org/news/2002/09/146906.php JUDGE ROBERT G. MILLENKY, CAMDEN COUNTY HALL OF JUSTICE 101 S. 5th ST., SUITE 120, CAMDEN, NJ 08103-4001 PHONE 856-365-3134see also:http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/notices/n030513b.htmIN NEW JERSEY, Superior Court Judge Robert G. Millenky has denied a request by the Democratic Party to extend polling hours after voting machine malfunctions caused delays, AP reports. Millenky did grant Pearl's request that emergency ballots and provisional ballots used as emergency ballots be counted. Other write-in ballots used while the mechanical problems were being fixed also were to be tallied in the final count, Pearl said, bringing to about 1,000 the total of paper ballots. More potential lawsuit fodder.from: http://www.southjerseynews.com/issues/december/m121403n.htmMarijuana advocate's DNA hearing put offSunday, December 14, 2003 By RENEE WINKLER Courier-Post Staff CAMDEN A contempt of court hearing for a Browns Mills man who has refused to provide a DNA sample as a condition of his release from probation has been rescheduled for Jan. 13. R. Edward Forchion, known for his attempts to legalize marijuana, balked at providing the sample, challenging the constitutionality of the law authorizing it. The requirement was not even proposed when Forchion pleaded guilty in 2000 to a charge of possessing 25 pounds of marijuana. Forchion argues that the law authorizes a search of people who "are not even suspects in crimes not yet committed." The DNA samples are collected by oral swabs. The process usually is done either at a probation office or the county sheriff's office. Forchion appeared Friday at a scheduled hearing before Superior Court Judge Robert Millenky. Assistant Camden County Prosecutor John T. Wynne and defense attorney Mark Fury agreed to the continuance. If convicted of the contempt charge, Forchion could be jailed, Millenky said. Forchion has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court challenging the statute. "If my lawsuit is dismissed, I'll do it. I'll give them the sample," Forchion said . . .-snippedfrom:http://www-camlaw.rutgers.edu/cservices/NJ_Superior_Court_Judges_Still_Hiring_as_of_2_03.htmlThe Honorable Robert G. Millenky Superior Court of New Jersey Camden County Hall of Justice 101 South 5th Street, Suite 120 Camden, NJ 08103-4001 Judge Millenky 856-365-3134 04 - Camden Family [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by FoM on January 11, 2004 at 23:16:51 PT News Brief from The Philadelphia Inquirer Marijuana Activist Who Refused to Give DNA is IndictedSunday, January 11, 2004 CAMDEN - An outspoken advocate for the legalization of marijuana was indicted Thursday on charges of refusing to submit a DNA sample for a statewide data bank, authorities said.Ed "NJ Weedman" Forchion, 39, was charged by a grand jury in Camden County with one count of criminal contempt, said Camden County Prosecutor Vincent P. Sarubbi. A state law requires most convicted criminals and parolees to submit to DNA tests. Forchion, a former truck driver from Pemberton Township, was convicted in December 2000 for his role in attempting to distribute 40 pounds of marijuana. Last fall, Forchion wrote Gov. McGreevey, inviting him to kiss his behind and "retrieve the DNA from your lips."A hearing is scheduled in state Superior Court in Camden tomorrow before Judge Robert G. Millenky. If convicted, Forchion faces up to 18 months in prison. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by Rev Jonathan Adler on January 05, 2004 at 16:18:33 PT: Changing Laws In Hawaii! It is still a pleasure to represent freedom, liberty, the right to choose what enters our sanctums and bodies alike. Weedman a.k.a. Ed; is an interesting brother and he has taken a 40 lb. bust and gone religious on his involvement. I suggest we all learn from our mistakes and not make them again. Ed and I both stood at the Liberty Bell and burned a phatty in 1996 when our class action suit was heard in Federal Court there. We along with hundreds of others gathered at the Bell for a historic moment on film. The suit failed, but the fight still continues. Blessings to Ed and all others who fight this unique struggle for freedom. We are winning! See www.sacramedicine.com Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by jose melendez on January 05, 2004 at 12:43:36 PT we surely can prove aid and comfort was given re: ' . . . think 911 was carried out by covert members of our own government and rogue CIA agents and assets.Osama Bin Laden . . . still a CIA asset!'I'm trying to be very careful making claims that I do not have evidence to back up. are YOU a crook? [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by CorvallisEric on January 05, 2004 at 09:05:01 PT Thanks, Jose, for correcting the link I got to the wrong website because I didn't enter the "www", which led me to the usmjparty site. And indeed, he has interesting views about 9/11:I personnally think 911 was carried out by covert members of our own government and rogue CIA agents and assets.Osama Bin Laden I believe is still a CIA asset!. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by jose melendez on January 05, 2004 at 03:08:39 PT hear, hear " I hope we can have respectful disagreement,"Excellent, CorvallisEric, and I agree.from: http://www.njweedman.com/bush.htm"Maybe “WAR” will always be a racket, but our best chance at preventing the next war is to unearth the truth about this one. The public is entitled to know the truth about what its government is doing. Only those Americans who speak out, execising our RIGHT to FREE SPEECH, risking our freedom or jobs and our physical well-being, ignoring thr threats and abuses of law, offer any hope of resurrecting a fair open and constitutional government for our country. "BY EDWARD FORCHION –aka- NJWEEDMAN who himself was imprisoned for speaking out against the “WAR ON DRUGS”. posses stones, don't throw them [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by CorvallisEric on January 04, 2004 at 23:19:43 PT NJ Weedman on 9/11 If anyone can find anything on NJ Weedman's website (which appears to be http://newjersey.usmjparty.com/ ) about "9/11 was a giant government hoax" I'd like to know because I couldn't find it. It could be buried in some of the stuff he copied from elsewhere.I agree we don't need trolls, but I hope we can have respectful disagreement, like whether certain assertions about 9/11 earn us respect or ridicule. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by jose melendez on January 04, 2004 at 22:49:24 PT nuevo please don't feed the trolls What if Goose creek kids had dropped a book or slammed a locker? [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Nuevo Mexican on January 04, 2004 at 13:23:01 PT Lushy, you a Repug or what? Sorry for your lack of sophistication when it comes to politics, you're in for a real education if you plan on hanging out at C-news. Everyone knows bushy boy needed 911 to invade Iraq, Afghanistan was a ruse, a ploy, to get us there, and we did go to war, with no wmds, regardless of massive world opinion, and who was to profit from 911, bushy boy, so why the nievete? whatreallyhappened.comor Just read mayans daily postings on the subject.mayan is vigilante, persistent, and informed. You will be soon. Sorry to shake up a world living in denial!Bush IS the terrorist everyone says they're looking for, we know where he is, but like Saddam and Osama, they have their roles to play as paid employees of the CIA, formerly or not (imagine if you 'formerly' worked for the CIA, what would you do for a living afterward?) [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on January 04, 2004 at 13:20:31 PT Max Flowers Thank you. I'll tell you this is the hardest part of doing CNews but it's necessary. Flaming web sites destroys them. I want people when they are on line to think where can I go and know that things will be fine and I hope CNews can be that web site. I post on one other forum but it's not for any reason except a different board. CNews is not a part of the talk. I checked the site out for quite awhile and realized that it was moderated very well and then I joined. I don't like fussing and fighting with people that should be friends at least in cyberspace. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Max Flowers on January 04, 2004 at 13:09:37 PT FoM kicks troll ass! hee hee! You don't waste any time! That's cool. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on January 04, 2004 at 12:50:32 PT Max Flowers Lushy Lush can't post here after two posts and two flames. Whoever he or she is the intentions were to cause strife and we don't need or want that. This is a Private Forum and we all work together to get along and learn. We laugh and cry together too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Max Flowers on January 04, 2004 at 12:43:00 PT LushyLush You're welcome to direct your sophomoric criticism at me if you like---I agree with Weedman and also believe that 9/11 was a Bush cartel conspiracy. If you took the time to look at documents which analyze that event OTHER than Fox or CNN or MSNBC's angles, you would likely come to the same conclusion (assuming you are a reasonable person with an open mind, however based on the two posts I've seen here I think that may be assuming too much there)If you are calling him insane for believing the government is capable of that, then you are calling me the same.You're brand new here and so far I've seen you slam both Kubby and Forchion with vapid insults. I'm starting to suspect you're a gov't troll of some kind. You're not going to make friends around here with that kind of orientation. How about saying something intelligent...? And what kind of name is LushyLush---are you telling us all you're an alcoholic? [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on January 04, 2004 at 11:15:39 PT Link To Comcast Article For Those Who Missed It http://www.mpp.org/releases/nr122203gsmm.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on January 04, 2004 at 11:10:58 PT LTE Sirs, In addition to all the persistent activism you mention, Ed Forchion is also suing Comcast because their cable division has refused to run his ads which ask for an end to the drug war. However, Comcast recently donated $50 million worth of free advertising time to the Parents for a Drug Free America. In doing so, Comcast has literally chosen which side of the issue we are to hear about and told the other side to shut up. One of the reasons Ed is running for Congress is because legally Comcast must run any advertising paid for by a political candidate. It's a good tactic, but shame on Comcast for not trusting its customers to make up their own minds. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Virgil on January 04, 2004 at 10:37:55 PT We need anybody and everybody for the cause Everyone knows Weedman will not win office. The best way to break the silence is running for office and ending the misery of the government's reefer madness. It is hurting them where it hurts because it makes him a legitimate candidate speaking on at least one area of conviction.The Marijuana Party itself has a good chance of staying shut out in every elected office of the land. It does not mean they do not have a contribution to make. At least there is someone out there penetrating the silence and addressing the lies. Where the average person might put a straw on the camel's back, Weedman has put a big, beautiful, baggie of bud. Awaken to the illumination of the bud. The best time to change the hideous cannabis laws is today and it would be great if they were retroactive. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by LushyLush on January 04, 2004 at 10:07:15 PT The Weedman I used to like the NJ Weedman. But after I found out that he thinks 9/11 was a giant government hoax (or so he says on his web site) I lost all respect for him. We need sane champions for our cause! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Virgil on January 04, 2004 at 09:17:02 PT Weedman is #2 in changing cannabis cullture The list of people that were most influential in changing the laws at Cannabis Culture list Weedman as second behind Marc Emery. If American justice were not an oxymoron, there would be no place in public view for the Weedman. The guy is a patriot fighting for truth, justice, and the American way, just like Superman, except he is real.The guy has wit to say he was inconegro.Cannabis Prohibition is an obvious injustice. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment