MARIJUANA ACTIVIST USES ACT OF DEFIANCE TO LAUNCH CAMPAIGN

Newly off probation, Ed Forchion of Browns Mills announced a bid for
the U.S. House, then lit up.

Call it a joint announcement.

A South Jersey advocate for the liberalization of marijuana laws
declared his candidacy for the U.S. House at Independence National
Historical Park by - how else? - lighting up a marijuana cigarette.

Not that he got a chance to smoke it.

After just a few tokes Saturday afternoon, a phalanx of 17 park
rangers surrounded Ed Forchion, also known as NJ Weedman.

The rangers confiscated the candidate's joint, and Forchion, 44, was
issued a $150 ticket for possession of a controlled substance.

Minutes before, while standing between Independence Hall and the
Liberty Bell Pavilion, Forchion said he intended to run as the U.S.
Marijuana Party's candidate for the seat held by Republican Jim Saxton
in New Jersey's Third Congressional District.

The district extends across Burlington and Ocean Counties and includes
a few neighborhoods in Camden County.

Also cited shortly after 4:20 p.m. was Pat Duff, 27, who said he
intended to run as the Marijuana Party's candidate for Philadelphia
City Council in 2007. The self-described "renegade car salesman" said
he would run on a platform encouraging the opening of cannabis cafes
across the city.

About 50 supporters, many with video cameras and shivering against the
wind, had gathered to watch Forchion and Duff ceremoniously light up.

The time and setting had been chosen with Karl Rove-ian precision.
"Four-20" is stoner slang for smoking marijuana. The park had the
benefit of being federal property, outside the jurisdiction of the
Philadelphia Police Department.

"We're peaceful, patriotic potheads," the soft-spoken Forchion said.
"We had meant to do this on Dec. 6, but it snowed and ruined what we'd
thought was going to be a big turnout."

On Dec. 3, Forchion completed 20 months of probation in Camden County
for pleading guilty to possessing five pounds of marijuana with the
intent to distribute.

"I'm happy," he said of putting probation behind him, "I can run for
office again."

Forchion, of Browns Mills, has run for Burlington County freeholder
and for the First District seat in the U.S. House on the Legalize
Marijuana ticket.

A Rastafarian, Forchion has said he smoked marijuana for religious
reasons, to relieve back pain, and to help him deal with chronic
depression. The former cross-country truck driver has been an advocate
of legalizing marijuana since the mid-1990s.

His high jinks have been celebrated in what is left of the
counterculture. Among his stunts: lighting up in the New Jersey
Assembly while wearing a black-and-white-striped prisoner's costume.

Saturday's announcement was intended to make a more sober point, he
said, adding that he intended to challenge the rangers' citations in
court.

"This is all about a First Amendment issue," Forchion said. "Freedom
of religion allows for the religious use of marijuana on federal
property. I'm just exercising that right."