CANDIDATE FOR STATE ASSEMBLY SEAT CHARGED WITH MARIJUANA POSSESSION

STRATFORD - Ed "NJ Weedman" Forchion, a candidate for the state Assembly in
the 8th District and for Camden County Freeholder, was arrested Monday on
charges of marijuana possession, authorities said. Forchion, 35, a
Chesilhurst resident who is running for both seats as a member of the
Legalize Marijuana Party of South Jersey, was stopped for speeding in this
Camden County community at 11:44 p.m., police Capt. Nick DiEttore said. A
routine background check determined that Forchion was wanted in Camden,
Woodbury and Gloucester Township for failing to appear in municipal court
within the last year on charges ranging from possession of small amounts of
marijuana to resisting arrest and motor vehicle violations, DiEttore said.
All committed while running for office last year. After Stratford police
ticketed Forchion for speeding, driving with a suspended license, driving
without insurance and driving with an expired license, he was transported
to the Camden County Jail, with bail set at $2,995 bail, DiEttore said.
Forchion yesterday said that a supporter he declined to identify posted the
bail.

Forchion said he did not appear in municipal court because he wants the
marijuana charges heard by a jury, which he believes would nullify
marijuana laws and vindicate him. "This is a prime example of why we need a
change in (marijuana) laws,'' Forchion said "I was thrown in a pigsty (the
Camden County Jail) because of a right the Constitution gives us, the right
to a jury trial."I have refused to participate in a kangaroo court the
forbids a jury, so i was arrested. The constitution doesn't say you have a
right to a jury trial -"except in municipal courts"!

Forchion was arrested Nov. 24, 1997, in Bellmawr, Camden County, and
charged with possession of more than 25 pounds of marijuana, which is
punishable by up to 20 years in prison. In April 1998, he openly smoked
marijuana cigarettes at the Camden County Democratic headquarters in Cherry
Hill and at the headquarters of U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews, D-1st of Haddon
Heights, in Haddon Heights while campaigning as a candidate for Camden
County Freeholder and for Congress. Forchion faces Republican incumbents
Francis Bodine of Moorestown and Larry Chatzidakis of Mount Laurel, and
Democrats Marie Hall of Medford Lakes and George Fallon of Waterford
Township in the 8th District state Assembly race on Nov. 2.