HOME OF 'WEEDMAN' ATTRACTS GRAFFITI; HE SAYS IT'S A BIAS

PEMBERTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- Pro-marijuana activist and perpetual underdog
political candidate Edward Forchion, who once tried to get his legal name
changed to NJ Weedman, said he woke up Thursday morning to find his home
vandalized.

Forchion said he found a 6-foot cross and the words "Get Jesus" in black
paint on his house in the Browns Mills section of the township.

Burlington County First Assistant Prosecutor Raymond E. Milavsky said
Thursday that his office was investigating the case as a bias crime - or one
committed because of the victim's race, ethnicity or religion.

Forchion said the sentiment painted on his house might be a reaction to
something he wrote on his Web site: "The U.S. marijuana laws are based on
ridiculous Christian Superstitions that claim the herb is sinful, when
In fact it is one of the greatest natural herbs on the face of the planet."

Forchion said that lately he has quieted his activism - which has previously
included smoking marijuana at the Statehouse and in front of the Liberty
Bell. "I said I was going to take a low profile because of the things that
happen to me," he said.