cannabisnews.com: Advocate For Legal Marijuana Leaves Country Advocate For Legal Marijuana Leaves Country Posted by FoM on November 24, 2000 at 16:26:14 PT By Associated Press Source: Boston Globe He tried to change the system by civil disobedience and running for elected office. Now the candidate who campaigned as ''NJ Weedman'' says he wants asylum. Instead of facing a possible prison sentence in New Jersey, Edward Forchion is in Canada hoping the Cuban Embassy will take him in. ''I can't just walk into jail,'' Forchion told the Courier-Post of Cherry Hill for its Thursday editions. Forchion arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday and met with officials at the Cuban Embassy. His verbal request for asylum was denied and he was asked to submit one in writing, Forchion told the newspaper. ''I didn't hurt anybody. I should be allowed to smoke,'' he said. Authorities alleged Forchion was part of a drug ring that had 25 pounds of marijuana shipped to a business in the Bellmawr Industrial Park. In October 1998, Forchion was indicted on charges of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute. He was on the ballot at the time as the ''legalize marijuana party'' candidate looking to replace U.S. Rep. Rep. Rob Andrews, a Democrat from Camden County in the 1st Congressional District. Forchion pleaded guilty in state Superior Court to conspiracy and possession. With a hearing set for Dec. 1, Forchion faced up to 10 years in state prison. He has since filed a motion seeking to retract that guilty plea. Arrests and political campaigns continued. In March, Forchion appeared at the Statehouse for an Assembly session wearing a black and white striped prisoner's costume. On the floor of the Assembly chambers, Forchion allegedly began smoking marijuana. He was escorted out by state troopers and arrested. He said it was an act of civil disobedience to highlight what he said is the state's discrimination of marijuana users. Forchion ran again this year as a third-party opponent to Andrews. Forchion was also on the ballot in Burlington County for a seat on the freeholder board. During a campaign news conference outside the courthouse in Mount Holly, Forchion again reportedly began smoking marijuana. That appearance was ended by the Burlington County sheriff. If Forchion does not appear in court for his sentencing hearing, he would be considered a fugitive. ''The prosecutor will move to revoke bail and begin proceedings to have any posted bail forfeited and to seek to have that defendant extradited,'' Camden County prosecutor's spokesman Greg Reinert told the newspaper. Source: Associated PressPublished: November 24, 2000© Copyright 2000 Boston Globe Electronic Publishing, Inc. Related Articles & Web Site:Legalize Marijuana Partyhttp://www.tlmp.org/Legal Marijuana Advocate Flees To Canada http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7751.shtmlMarijuana Candidate Finds Plea a Bargainhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7122.shtmlCannabisNews Articles - Ed Forchionhttp://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=Forchion Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by freedom fighter on November 25, 2000 at 16:02:42 PT In the name of freedom I feel bad.A man should not want to leave his country.It is his home and now was his home all because he choose to smoke cannabis. How can an average american be really free? Even if you do not smoke cannabis, you cannot be free if you force another who smoke the herb out of this country.In the name of freedom, I feel bad. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Dankhank on November 25, 2000 at 15:07:37 PT: Bon Voyage, Ed Hope you find peace on your journey, Ed.I really enjoyed tokin' at the Liberty Bell with you during the republican convention in sept.You are a strong man, but alas, not as strong as the hate-filled government.Peace ... HEMP n STUFF [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: