By JEFF EDELSTEIN, staff writer

(2/6/2002)

Forchion, who currently is sitting in Riverfront State Prison on a pot charge, believes marijuana should be legal and has taken numerous steps in his quixotic quest. He has run for congress and Burlington County freeholder, getting thousands of votes both times. He has lit up joints in courts, in congressional offices, and most famously, in the State Senate chambers. He has been the subject of newspaper and magazine articles locally, nationally and internationally. He has written a book about his life as well as a series of comic books based on his adventures as the "NJ Weedman".

And he's sitting in jail because he was convicted of being in possession of 25 pounds of pot in1997, pot that he contends was meant for ill people and for members of the Rastafarian religion. His latest battle with the powers that be centers on his quest to change his legal name-- to NJWEEDMAN.COM.

The Camden County Prosecutor's office isn't thrilled with the prospect. In a three-page brief, Assistant Prosecutor Kathleen Higgins argues against Forchion's plan. "The petitioner's motive is clearly criminal in that its purpose is clearly to enhance his business of selling marijuana," she writes. "This is clearly an unworthy motive of a criminal purpose, and is offensive to the public." But Forchion insists it's only a gimmick to sell books.

NJWEEDMAN.COM is his "professional name," said Forchion, which he intends to use as an "advertising gimmick for my books, not as a criminal venture."

Higgins claims it's an advertising gimmick to sell marijuana.

The prosecutor also believes Forchion would be setting a bad precedent. "Allowing the petitioner to change his name would open the floodgates to all drug dealers and other criminals to change their names to professional criminal-type names," she wrote.

No decision has been made by the courts concerning Forchion's name change as of yet. 

@The Trentonian 2003 

Jeff Edelstein, staff reporter (2/16/2002)

"It was denied," said Judge M. Allan Vogelson.

He would not further discuss the case, and calls to Camden County Assistant Prosecutor Kathleen Higgins, who argued against the name change, were not returned.

And according to Dr. Steve Fenichel, an Absecon physician, Forchion was not at the hearing, despite being promised Thursday night that he would be allowed to attend. "He was told he was going to be picked up and taken there," said Fenichel, who was to serve as a medical expert in Forchion's last trial. "I talked to him today and that was not the case."

Forchion, who is currently sitting in Riverfront State Prison on a pot charge, is a marijuana crusader who has run for congress and Burlington County freeholder, getting thousands of votes both times. He has also smoked pot in courts, in congressional offices, and most famously, in the state Senate chambers in an effort to draw attention to his cause.

He has also written a book and a series of comic books on his life, where he refers to himself as the "NJ Weedman."According to Forchion, that is his "professional name," and he wanted to change it as an "advertising gimmick for my books, not as a criminal venture."

In a three-page brief sent to Vogelson before yesterday's hearing, Assistant Prosecutor Higgins argued against Forchion's plan."The petitioner's motive is clearly criminal in that its purpose is clearly to enhance his business of selling marijuana," she writes. "This is clearly an unworthy motive, a criminal purpose and is offensive to the public." Higgins then supposed that Forchion would be setting a bad precedent. "Allowing petitioner to change his name would open the floodgates to all drug dealers and other criminals to change their names to professional criminal type names," she wrote. 

@The Trentonian 2003 

People should be called whatever they want. Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali. Prince changed his name to a symbol. And if someone wants to twist the trusted name of Puff Daddy into P. Diddy, well, he's a grown man. Chronologically, anyway. \par So why can't Edward Forchion Jr. become "NJWeedman. com"?

A colorful local character who has run for local and national office on the legalize-marijuana platform, Forchion already is known as "Weedman." But his request to change his name legally to NJWeedman.com was struck down by a Superior Court judge, after a prosecuting attorney argued Forchion was doing this in order to gain publicity and sell marijuana.

Granted, Forchion actively seeks publicity. He helped bolster that reputation by sending the attorney - an assistant Camden County prosecutor - a Valentine with a picture of a heart and a marijuana plant, and a message thanking her for opposing the name change and gaining him more attention.\par But what's wrong with wanting publicity? Did the actor Paul Reubens call himself "Pee Wee Herman" as part of a private, spiritual quest? Let's hope not. More likely, he was trying to sell himself.

As for the charge that the name would help Forchion sell pot, attracting attention to his illegal activities seems to be the least of his problems. He's already in jail. When he gets out, police probably will be keeping an eye on him. How many people who've heard of Forchion at all don't know he likes marijuana?

Since everyone is calling him Weedman anyway, we might as well just let him put it on his driver's license. It'll cut down on confusion and, if nothing else, give cops a hint of what they're dealing with if they pull him over. 

@Copyright 2003 Courier-Post