#Edward "njweedman" Forchion is fighting criminal charges and he wants to fight for your rights too.
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By BRIDGET MURPHY
Staff Writer, (609)272-7257

QUESTION: How many southern New Jersey election ads feature a 2-foot bong and fake marijuana leaves? 
ANSWER:Probably only one. And if you live in Hammonton, it's running on a cable TV station that transmitts into your home.

Edward Forchion is fighting to win a seat representing the 8th District in the state Assembly and for a spot on the Camden County Board of Freeholders. But he's also fighting for your rights. Your rights to smoke pot.

Forchion, 35, is currently facing drug charges that could put him in jail for 20 years, but he claims that smoking marijuana is part of his Rastafarian Religion, and that the charges amount to religious presecution. 

He registered to run for office under the "LEGALIZE MARIJUANA PARTY" and his middle name is listed on the official ballot as "NJWEEDMAN ." 

I just want a good number of votes," he said this wekk. "There's a lot of people disenfranchised with the Democratis and Republicians. That's how Jesse Ventura got elected."

Forchion, who grew up in the Sicklerville area and has four children, is currently working at a manufacturing plant in Hammonton. He's a military veteran, and attended a South Carolina Christian College for a year. The candidate also said he used to own a trucking business, and his cargo was what Rastafarians refer to as "ganja."

Forchion says on his Web site - www.tlmp.org - that smoking marijuana is a holy sacrament for him "in much the same way Christians and Catholic's regard the fruit grape which they process into wine."

This week Forchion explained that he's often harassed by police, and arrested for protesting, but that he will continue to fight for what he consider's a personal freedom citizens are entitled to under the BILL OF RIGHTS.

"If I was elected, I could handle it," Forchion said. "Obviously, I'd need a little legal help. Most of these politicians are talking heads anyway". 

Forchion said his wife is not a smoker. "Why do people smoke?" the candidate said, admitting to puffing his first joint at 15. "Who knows why? But by age 16 I knew the government had lied about marijuana. They fail to report the benifits and exaggerate the negatives, kind of like the cigarette industry did (with tobacco)."

Even if he doesn't get voted into office, Forchion said his point is being made by his campaign, and the ones he ran last year for a congressional seat. 

"It's a protest about the marijuana laws," he said. "I'm utilizing the election laws to talk about the issue."