Namechange2

    On Feb. 15th, 2001 the state of New Jersey denied me the RIGHT to legally change my name to "NJWEEDMAN.COM", with a false claim that I was using the name to enhance some criminal enterprise. ( FOR DETAILS OF THAT SEE: NAME-CHANGE)

     I appealed that decision to the New Jersey Appellate Court as a constitutional violation of my right to a fair trial on "ex parte" grounds and won my appeal on Feb. 24th, 2004. The appellate court ordered a new name-change hearing in the CAMDEN COUNTY court for March 26th, 2004. (See order here: NAME-CHANGE RULING

    On March 26th, 2004 Judge Fratto again rubber stamped the prosecutions request to prohibit my name-change and denied it.

Name change#2


TRENTONIAN 3/29/2004 By Trymaine Lee (Camden - NJ) Ed Forchion has been unofficially denied the right to legally change his name to NJWEEDMAN.COM. Superior Court Judge John A. Fratto denied the Browns Mills man's request Friday. Ogfficials from the camden County Prosecutors Office said the name was denied because it would allow the Rastafarian activist to "promote an illegal activity." Forchion contended yesterday that an appellate court document sent to him, which states the Superior Court must grant him a hearing on the name change case, name themselves as the final word in the matter, not Judge Fratto. Court authorities were unable to be reached last night for comment. Forchion was placed in an early-release program in April 2002, following 16 months of a 10 year prison bid for possesion of marijuana with the intent to distribute. Since his release, Forchion has been a crusader for the cause of marijuana legalization. "The name change is not for me to promote selling drugs," Forchion said. "It's for me to promote my website which voices the need for us to protect our freedom of speech and the problems with America's war on drugs."

Judge: NJ Weedman Can't Change Name

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· NJ Weedman

Mar 27, 2004 3:23 pm US/Eastern

(1010 WINS) (CAMDEN, N.J.) A self-styled marijuana activist will not be allowed to change his name to NJWeedman.com.

The name change for Edward Forchion was nixed Friday by Superior Court Judge John A. Fratto.

A spokesman for the Camden County Prosecutor's Office said the ruling came after prosecutors argued the name change would "promote an illegal activity."

Forchion was convicted in 2000 of conspiracy to distribute marijuana in excess of 25lbs. for his role in a 1997 marijuana transaction between Arizona and New Jersey that resulted in 3 arrests. He was sentenced to 10 years.

Forchion was placed in an early-release program in April 2002 after serving 17 months of a 10-year prison term for possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.

He subsequently was “illegally – jailed” for five months by authorities who said he violated the program by filming public service announcements pressing for changes to New Jersey's laws and advocating legalizing marijuana.

On Jan. 24^th, 2003 Federal Judge Irenas issued an injunction ordering the state of New Jersey to release him citing his imprisonment was a violation of his free speech rights. Yet, when he was released from jail in January 2003, Forchion was returned to the early-release program but barred by Judge Irenas from promoting illegal use of marijuana after his release.

Forchion, who refers to himself as "NJWeedman," has said he used marijuana because of his religious beliefs and for medical reasons.

He has made three bids for a seat in Congress, losing twice and quitting one race after being indicted on drug charges.

This story say’s I quit one race. I never quit a race and I only ran for Congress twice. I ran for Congress in 1998 (1st dist) and 2000 (1st dist). I also ran for Camden County Freeholder in 1998 and Burlington County Freeholder in 2000. Additionally in 1999 I ran for Camden County Freeholder and State Assembly (4th Dist).

(IMAGE)


THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER 3/27/2004 S. Jersey marijuana advocate denied name change CAMDEN - A South Jersey advocate for the liberalization of marijuana laws will have to continue to file his taxes under the name his mother gave him. Robert Edward Forchion Jr. yesterday was denied his application to officially change his name to NJWeedman.com. Superior Court Judge John A. Fratto turned down the convicted marijuana dealer's request after prosecutors argued that the name change "would promote an illegal activity," said Bill Shralow, spokesman for the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

Marijuana advocate denied name change
By MIKE MATHIS
5/5/2004

TRENTON - Marijuana-legalization advocate Ed Forchion cannot change his name to njweedman.com, an appeals court has ruled.

Forchion maintains he wants to change his name to promote his advocacy for reform of marijuana laws, not to encourage the sale or use of marijuana, as the Camden County Prosecutor's Office contends.

The Pemberton Township resident also hoped to use the njweedman.com name in the fall during his third-party campaign to challenge U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton, R-3rd of Mount Holly.

Forchion's request was denied in March by a Superior Court judge in Camden County, who ruled Forchion advocates breaking marijuana laws and could use his name to sell the drug.

The appeals court agreed, saying Forchion advocates law breaking and his advocacy encourages others to possess and use marijuana.

"He admits, at the very least, to smoking marijuana as well as to purchasing it for himself, and on a few occasions for others as well," the three-judge panel wrote in its nine-page decision. "One cannot smoke marijuana without possessing it, and purchasing for another is a form of distribution."

Forchion said yesterday he plans to appeal the decision.

"I haven't sold weed in years," Forchion said. "I can't get away from the fact that I used to. I just want to ex-press my political views by saying marijuana should be legal."

Email: mmathis@phillyBurbs.com

To Government officials NJWEEDMAN is: with a big mouth!

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