MARIJUANA ADVOCATE READIES FOR HIS TRIAL

Despite a judge's order, Edward Forchion plans to bring up jury
nullification. Jury selection is to begin today.

Barred from trying to convince a jury that the government's marijuana laws
are unconstitutional, Edward Forchion - an advocate for the legalization of
marijuana who is to go on trial this week on a charge of conspiracy to
distribute 40 pounds of cannabis - has vowed to press on anyway.

Yesterday, Judge Stephen Thompson of Camden County Superior Court
reaffirmed another judge's ruling to bar Forchion from introducing the
concept of jury nullification to his jury.

John Wynne, assistant prosecutor, successfully argued that, although a jury
has the power to nullify a law, the right should not be advertised.

Jury selection is to start today for Forchion, 36, of Browns Mills, in a
case that stems from a 1997 arrest in Bellmawr. If convicted, he could face
up to 20 years in state prison. He has been out on bail since his arrest.

He said yesterday that he would try to use jury nullification despite the
judge's order.

"This is a nightmare for me," Forchion said. "I'm hoping I get a jury that
understands and sees how ridiculous these laws are."

Police say Forchion and his brother, Russell, arranged for a large shipment
of marijuana from Arizona to the Bellmawr Industrial Park. Eric Poole, who
signed for the Federal Express delivery, also was arrested. Poole and
Russell Forchion pleaded guilty to lesser charges and served short
sentences.

According to court documents, Russell Forchion testified that he and his
brother had helped arrange the delivery.

Edward Forchion, who used to maintain an apartment in Tucson, Ariz., when
he was a cross-country truck driver, said that he had no part in arranging
the shipment and that he had never sold drugs.

In the past, he has acknowledged doing some eccentric things to make his
point that marijuana laws are unjust. Calling himself "NJweedman," he has
fired up marijuana cigarettes in the chambers of the state legislature, in
front of the Liberty Bell, and in the offices of U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D.,
N.J.).

He also has entered politics and is running for Burlington County
freeholder and the First District congressional seat on the issue of
changing marijuana laws. Forchion said he equated laws on drugs to statutes
that affirmed slavery.

"I know the truth," he said. "It's a stupid law, so I plan on continuing to
openly advocate marijuana."

He said he took satisfaction in the fact that a few elected officials have
begun talking about the need to decriminalize marijuana, among them
independent Gov. Jesse Ventura in Minnesota and Republican Gov. Gary
Johnson in New Mexico.

On a personal level, Forchion, who is a Rastafarian, said marijuana laws
violated his freedom of religion. He said smoking marijuana played an
important role in his worship.

Beyond religious grounds, Forchion said, it is wrong to criminalize
marijuana when other drugs, such as alcohol and tobacco, are legal.

"The difference is tobacco is the product of rich, white men, and so it
goes untouched by the government," he said.