Fuck the law, the laws wrong!

By JASON LAUGHUN
and TOM LOUNSBERRY
Courier-Post Staff
Photo- Edited by NJWEEDMAN 

CHERRY HILL - NJ

  The Cherry Hill Twp. municipal court Wednesday morning postponed a hearing on charges of drug possession against freeholder candidate Edward "njweedman" Forchion after he filed a motion to dismiss his case on the basis of religious freedom and medical necessity.

A hearing Tuesday night in Haddon Heights also was not resolved after he filed a similar motion in that borough's court. Forchion, a Rastafarian, said marijuana smoking is an integral part of his religion and should be legal under the Constitution.

"Marijuana is a natural relaxant to cleanse your body and soul," he said before the hearing Wednesday.

He also said in his motion he needs the drug to ease pain from a back injury he suffered in a 1997 car accident.

Forchion is running for Camden County freeholder and for state Assembly in the 8th District for the Legalize Marijuana Party.

He also faces charges in Haddon Heights that he smoked 2 joints in Rep. Rob Andrew's office on April 27, 1998, and charges in Cherry Hill that he possessed marijuana while outside the Democratic Party headquarters on April 28, 1998.  He engineered his own arrest in those incidents he said.  Hoping his cases will keep the issue of marijuana legalization in the public eye. 

Forchion wore a Bob Marley T-shir-t to the 11:30 a.m. hearing and                    played with his 20-month-old son, "King". while discussing his belief that all drugs should be legalized. He believes the street wars and prison overcrowding would be things of the past if people didn't have to go to a black market for drugs.  He said legalization would not create more users in America, adding that he had smoked a joint at 7 a.m. that day.

At the hearing Tuesday night.  Forchion asked Judge Steven Feld for a new public defender.  Feld disniissed Charles Shimberg as Forchion's public defender after 
Forchion claimed he was "not open to any of my positions" on marijuana.  Forchion had been represented by Shimberg's former law partner, Steven Pazan. who had helped him prepare his defense.  But Pazon left the law practice and the case fell to Shimberg.

Forchion's public defender in Cherry Hill. Scott Schweiger, said Forchion doesn't expect his motions will be granted. but hopes a denial will give him the chance to 
bring his cause before a higher court. "He wants to have something he can appeal. He wants to be able to address freedom of religion and medical necessity." Schweiger said.

If convicted of the two charge Forchion could face six months in prison and a $1,000 fine on each charge.  Forchion is also charged with Conspiracy to possess drugs from a separate case in 1997.  Those charges could bring him a maximum prison sentence of 3O years. he said. 
 

The Haddon Heights Case is to be re-heard Feb., 23rd 2000
The Cherry Hill case has not been set to be heard Feb., 29th 2000
                    Read: Motion to Dismiss here

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                                             LMP - HOMEPAGE

 *Mr. Forchion was also observed smoking a joint as he walked away from the courthouse. -- He said, " It's my body I'll smoke when I want too,  Fuck the Law!"