'WEEDMAN' HOUSE CANDIDATE GETS 10 YEARS FOR POT POSSESSION

Associated Press

The man who campaigned for a seat in the U.S. House of
Representatives as "NJ Weedman" was sentenced in Camden yesterday to
10 years in prison for possessing 25 pounds of marijuana he planned
to sell, officials said.

Edward Forchion unsuccessfully sought asylum with the Cuban Embassy
in Ottawa, Canada, in November, saying he should be allowed to smoke
marijuana.

Authorities alleged Forchion was part of a drug ring that had shipped
marijuana to a business in the Bellmawr Industrial Park.

In October 1998, he 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.

He had filed a motion seeking to retract that guilty plea, but was
sentenced yesterday anyway, according to Greg Reinert, spokesman for
the Camden County prosecutor's office.

In March, Forchion appeared at an Assembly session wearing a black
and white striped prisoner's costume.

On the Assembly floor, Forchion allegedly smoked marijuana in what he
called an act of civil disobedience.

He was led out by state troopers and arrested.