ACTIVIST APPEALS POT BUSTS

The New Jersey Weedman has struck again.

Political pot activist, and congressional candidate, Edward Forchion, a.k.a
NJWEEDMAN, filed an appeal Wednesday on marijuana possession convictions
stemming from two instances in 1998 during which he smoked a joint in the
Camden office of Congressman Rob Andrews.

Forchion, a practicing Rastafarian who shocked onlookers in March when he
lit another doobie in the chambers of the New Jersey Assembly, argued in
his brief that the convictions violate his religious rights and also deny
him a critical treatment for a variety of medical afflictions.

"The marijuana laws of New Jersey are based on lies," declared Forchion,
who is running on the Legalize Marijuana Party ticket for New Jersey's
First Congressional District seat, during a visit to The Trentonian.

"Everyone in prison for marijuana use is there because of lies. They are
political prisoners," he added.

The pot-smoking incidents related to his current convictions took place on
April 27 and 28, 1998, according to Forchion's appeal document.

The document states that "on or about April 2, 1998" Defendant Edward
Robert Forchion wrote a letter to Congressman Rob Andrews asking him to
support the passage of legislation pending before Congress that would have
legalized marijuana use for medical purposes.

Reportedly angered by Andrews' response in another letter, the document
states, Forchion visited the congressman's office on April 27, 1998, smoked
a joint to demonstrate its medicinal benefits and then left the office. An
hour later he returned to Andrews' office and smoked another joint. He was
subsequently arrested.

The next day, the document states, Forchion went to The Democratic Party
headquarters in Cherry Hill, where he smoked another joint to demonstrate
the plant's power. He was also promptly arrested after this incident.

On February 23 and 29, 2000, Forchion was convicted for marijuana
possession for these arrests.

Carrying a massive file of medical reports, Forchion argued Wednesday that
marijuana smoke was crucial for treating his afflictions of asthma,
depression, chronic pain and trauma-induced epilepsy.

In his appeal brief, Forchion writes "It is NJWEEDMAN's contention that he
has a fundamental right under the United States Constitution, and the New
Jersey Constitution to make rational choices regarding his medical care,
and that the state may not limit his choices for effective medical
treatment without demonstrating a compelling need and employing a means
that it narrowly tailored to accomplish its objective."

"I could have kept my marijuana smoking private, like most people do. But
because I'm honest and forthright about what I do, I'm now in legal
trouble," Forchion declared.

A hearing on the issue has been scheduled for August 28.