But Legalize Marijuana hopeful faces prison on drug charges 

Wednesday, October 21, 1998

By Trent Seibert
Staff Writer 

If third-party congressional candidate Edward Forchion unseats Democratic Rep. Robert Andrews in the Nov. 3 election, he may not have much time to convince Washington to legalize marijuana. Forchion, running in the 1st District under the Legalize Marijuana Party, was indicted Friday on charges of conspiracy and intent to distribute dozens of pounds of pot. He faces up to 20 years in prison and $300,000 in fines. 

But it's likely that Forchion, 34, won't take a seat in Congress. He concedes that he's running "just to prove a point" in his fight to legalize marijuana. 

The candidate with libertarian leanings likens his cause to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s fight for civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s. "People like Martin Luther King purposely broke laws, drank from the water fountains, sat in the front of the bus, to gain exposure, in order to right a wrong," he said. "I look at what I do as the same thing. I'm not hurting anyone." 

He continued, "I don't do coffee. I don't do alcohol. I don't do cigarettes. I smoke marijuana."

It's not just a personal issue for Forchion. He argued that legalizing the drug which he claims is not harmful would mean taxes would be lowered. "The main reason (for high taxes) is the amount of money the government, the counties, the state, wastes on the war on drugs," he said. "One of the ways we can save money is to legalize marijuana. Just remove marijuana from the "War on Drugs" and tax it. You'll never stop it. It's everywhere." 

He called the war on drugs "ridiculous." He showed his scorn for retired Brig. Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, who leads the nation's war on drugs. "They ought to reduce his rank and make him Captain Idiot," Forchion said. 

Forchion insisted he's not a one-issue candidate. 

For instance, he's an advocate of fathers' rights a subject that has touched Forchion personally. He said he has four children: a daughter with his first wife, a daughter and a son with his second wife, and a daughter with a girlfriend he dated between his marriages. 

"The girlfriend hates me," he said. "She does not let me see my daughter. She's come into court and just told some outrageous lies. I can't believe I have a normal relationship with three of my kids and one of them I don't see. I've been smoking marijuana for over 20 years, including the years I lived with her, now she come's to court saying she had no idea I smoked marijuana. Judge Maria S. Bell, from the Burlington County family court took my visitation as a result. When I complained about my first amendment rights being violated she said, "I don't care about your 1st amendment rights.

He claims he pays child support, but is not allowed to see his daughter. 

Forchion said he believes in safe-needle programs to stop the spread of diseases but with a twist. The addicts could pony up the money to buy needles, and that money would flow into taxpayer coffers. 

"I don't understand why they have to have a giveaway program," he said. "they should be allowed to buy them just like I feel potheads should be allowed to buy pipes, which are safer to use than papers which have cancer causing glue on them"

In addition, he is a supporter of an easy method for the public to petition for ballot referendums. "The Democrats and Republicans both seem to not want to see any type of citizen initiatives for anything," he said of state officials. "Whenever citizens have the opportunity to vote to legalize they have. Just wait and see what happens in Washington DC this Nov."

Forchion said he was disappointed with federal officials as well. The investigation of President Clinton has mired government, he said. "I believe the Democrats and Republicans are like the worst old couple," he said. "They just argue and fight and tie up the government a couple of times. I don't see how anyone can vote for a Democrat or a Republican." 

On Clinton: "I don't see that he did anything wrong. I'm a poligimous too." 

Forchion said he has supported himself for the past two years providing marijuana. He used to be a long-haul truck driver until he developed painful back problems, Forchion explained.  "Marijuana is a wanted commodity," Forchion said. "Every community has people like me that provide a service, whether it be for the person who's sick or the person who wants to come home and smoke a joint instead of drinking a beer." 

He said he's familiar with the underground world of pot sales and black market loans. 

"On the black market, you can get credit, you can get loans," he said. He explained that while he's unable to get loans from banks, "I can get 60 to 70 pounds of marijuana on credit and make enough money to last me six or seven months." 

Forchion predicted that he would get 20 percent of the vote. 

He also said he's calm facing the indictment that stems from an arrest last year. 

"Marijuana is a good stress-reliever," Forchion said. "When I think about the charges I've got I lite up and it helps. Marijuana is a great natural medicine!"