In 1993 the U.S. Congress passed the (42 U.S.C. § 2000bb(a)) Religious Freedom and Restoration Act which allows for the religious use of marijuana on federal grounds; during the course of a religious ceremony.

On Dec. 20th, 2003 local provocateurs, Pat Duff and NJWEEDMAN, demonstrated this fact by smoking at the LIBERTY BELL. Although at the time they were issued summons no court date was immediately set, prompting these two to embark on a monthly demonstration.

 They have now decided to turn Independence Park into Philly Peace Park. Come join these two FREEDOM FIGHTERS in a “joint” demonstration and act of civil dis-obedience. Make a statement to end tvhe “WAR on DRUGS”. Every 3rd Saturday of each month!

UPDATE - A COURT DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR SEPTEMBER 29th, 2004!

JUDGE ARNOLD C. RAPPORT Courtroom 5C, fifth Floor,U.S. Courthouse, 601 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pa.

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        EDWARD FORCHION

           

"Freedom of Religion means all Religions"; that would include me and my faith. Unfortunately especially in New Jersey Superior Court Family division my Religious Rights are constantly ignored.

This demonstration is designed to legally put all Governmental agencies on notice that Freedom of Religion also applies to non-Christian African based faiths.  I had my visitation rights taken from me for espousing my Religious beliefs; I've been imprisoned, railroaded into prison without the rights to a fair trial and imprisoned again for complaining about. My hope is Judge Rapoport will uphold the Constitutional Right of”FREEDOM of RELIGION" and not the Governments Drug Policy of War.        - 2003          

9th Circuit Court of Appeals Rules Religion May Be Defense to Marijuana Possession IN THE COURTS March 1996 The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled on February 2 that under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, Rastafarian defendants should be allowed to show that they use marijuana for bona fide religious reasons in their defense against charges of possession of marijuana (U.S. v. Bauer,Meeks,Triber, No. 94-30073, 96 C.D.O.S. 756, 1996WL42240 (9th Cir. 1996);(OPINION); Reynolds Holding, "Rastafarian Pot Could Be Legal," San Francisco Chronicle, February 3, 1996, p. A14; "Marijuana For Religious Reasons," Washington Post, February 5, 1996, p. A10; Associated Press, "Court: Rastafarians Can Hold Marijuana," Chicago Tribune, February 4, 1996, p. 9). Acting on two tips, police initiated an investigation of marijuana trafficking from Mexico to Billings, Montana. As a result of the investigation, 26 people were indicted in November 1992 on a number of charges, including conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana, money laundering, use of firearms in relation to drug trafficking, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Three of the defendants, Calvin Treiber, Dawn Meeks, and Lexi Bauer, appealed on the grounds that they possessed the marijuana in the course of practicing their religion, Rastafarianism. The Court of Appeals found that Rastafarianism is a recognized religion that considers marijuana a sacrament. In 1993, Meeks had requested the district court to provide funds for expert testimony on the use of marijuana in Rastafarianism. The district court denied that motion and granted a government motion to prevent any religious defense to the charges. The defendants' trial started on October 3, 1993. On November 17, 1993, the defendants notified the court that President Clinton had signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act on November 16, 1993. The Act declares that "governments should not substantially burden religious exercise without compelling justification," i.e. government interest. Further, the Act allows for persons who find that a law does "substantially burden" their free exercise of religion to present evidence of such at trial (P.L. 103-141; 42 U.S.C. 2000bb-1). The district court refused to reconsider its ruling on the government's motion. Post-conviction, the defendants argued that laws regulating marijuana greatly interfere with the ability of Rastafarians to practice their religion. The district court ruled that "the government has an overriding interest in regulating marijuana." The court quoted a 1967 Fifth Circuit decision: "It would be difficult to imagine the harm which would result if the criminal statutes against marihuana were nullified as to those who claim the right to possess and traffick in this drug for religious purposes. For all practical purposes the anti-marihuana laws would be meaningless, and enforcement impossible" (Leary v. U.S., 383 F.2d 851 (5th Cir. 1967), rev'd on other grounds, 395 U.S. 6 (1969)). The Court of Appeals three judge panel was unanimous that the defendants should have been allowed to present evidence of their religious use of marijuana at trial. Judge John T. Noonan, Jr., writing for the court, found that under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the government would be required to show that the burdens on the defendants' religion were in the course of furthering the government's interest and that the laws were the "least restrictive means of furthering that compelling government interest." While the defendants may use the religious argument in their defense of simple possession charges, Noonan wrote that the same argument cannot be applied to other charges of conspiracy to distribute, possession with intent to distribute, and money laundering. "Nothing before us suggests that Rastafarianism would require this conduct," he wrote. Noonan ordered that the defendants be retried on the simple possession charges. At such trial, Noonan wrote, the government can challenge whether the defendants are Rastafarians. "It is not enough in order to enjoy the protections of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to claim the name of a religion as a protective cloak," Noonan wrote. "Neither the government nor the court has to accept the defendants' mere say-so." (The Government chose not to re-try, or appeal this case) The defendants appealed on a number of other grounds, including inappropriate peremptory challenges to the jury by the prosecution, misleading jury instructions, and selective prosecution. The Court of Appeals found no grounds for any of these arguments.

It's illegal to smoke ganja in Jamaica. At the Presidio, it's a different story. After all, it's freedom of religion -- if you're a Rastafarian, and have the dreadlocks to prove it.

Yep, those days of hiding that certain smell from your landlord are over. Rastafarians can now smoke out in the great outdoors as long as they keep it on federal land -- wink, wink -- and they have Benny Toves Guerrero to thank for the action.

Guerrero was arrested at the Guam airport for marijuana possession, but his appeal to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ended favorably Tuesday.

The court ruled that Congress had the power to make religious exemptions to existing laws. The result: A loophole allowing the smoking of weed -- a spiritual offering in the Rastafarian religion -- on federal land.

Around the Rastafarian community Wednesday, the court ruling was being savored like a long, slow toke.

"That's what I was telling you this morning," said a friend trying to help Jamaica native Glendon Codling, who was selling necklaces from a table on Market and Fifth streets Wednesday, fully realize the effect of the decision. "Can I be a Rasta?"

Unfortunately, Codling's Caucasian buddy might not pass muster. In other words, don't expect an influx of new converts.

"A Rasta comes with the hair," said Newton Gordon, Jamaica's honorary consul to San Francisco. "You don't see a Rasta with a nice crew cut."

But they do have pot. It's an integral part of the Rasta religion, and now, they don't have to hide it anymore. They can go to Ocean Beach, Crissy Field, Point Reyes, even the Farallons, and light a doobie.

"In Jamaica, it's a lot like food," Codling said. "It's like relaxation. But in Jamaica you get in big, big trouble."

You mean in the home of Bob Marley it is illegal to smoke pot? Codling was asked.

"Yes," he said, musing about the idea of being able to light one up near the Golden Gate Bridge.

Gordon explained that the law was implemented as a means to avoid a strong dependence on Colombian drug lords.

"But everybody looks the other way," Gordon said. "In Jamaica, no one's going to arrest you for smoking pot."

No one will here either, just watch where you're standin
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FOR MORE DETAILS ON NJWEEDMAN's CLAIM OF THE LEGALITY OF MARIJUANA USE ON FEDERAL PROPERTY SEE: "HE'S BACK"

A South Jersey advocate for the liberalization of marijuana laws declared his candidacy for the U.S. House at Independence National Historical Park by - how else? - lighting up a marijuana cigarette.

Not that he got a chance to smoke it.

After just a few tokes Saturday afternoon, a phalanx of 17 park rangers surrounded Ed Forchion, also known as NJ Weedman.

The rangers confiscated the candidate's joint, and Forchion, 44, was issued a $150 ticket for possession of a controlled substance.

Minutes before, while standing between Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Pavilion, Forchion said he intended to run as the U.S. Marijuana Party's candidate for the seat held by Republican Jim Saxton in New Jersey's Third Congressional District.

The district extends across Burlington and Ocean Counties and includes a few neighborhoods in Camden County.

Also cited shortly after 4:20 p.m. was Pat Duff, 27, who said he intended to run as the Marijuana Party's candidate for Philadelphia City Council in 2007. The self-described "renegade car salesman" said he would run on a platform encouraging the opening of cannabis cafes across the city.

About 50 supporters, many with video cameras and shivering against the wind, had gathered to watch Forchion and Duff ceremoniously light up.

The time and setting had been chosen with Karl Rove-ian precision. "Four-20" is stoner slang for smoking marijuana. The park had the benefit of being federal property, outside the jurisdiction of the Philadelphia Police Department.

"We're peaceful, patriotic potheads," the soft-spoken Forchion said. "We had meant to do this on Dec. 6, but it snowed and ruined what we'd thought was going to be a big turnout."

On Dec. 3, Forchion completed 20 months of probation in Camden County for pleading guilty to possessing five pounds of marijuana with the intent to distribute.

"I'm happy," he said of putting probation behind him, "I can run for office again."

Forchion, of Browns Mills, has run for Burlington County freeholder and for the First District seat in the U.S. House on the Legalize Marijuana ticket.

A Rastafarian, Forchion has said he smoked marijuana for religious reasons, to relieve back pain, and to help him deal with chronic depression. The former cross-country truck driver has been an advocate of legalizing marijuana since the mid-1990s.

His high jinks have been celebrated in what is left of the counterculture. Among his stunts: lighting up in the New Jersey Assembly while wearing a black-and-white-striped prisoner's costume.

Saturday's announcement was intended to make a more sober point, he said, adding that he intended to challenge the rangers' citations in court.

"This is all about a First Amendment issue," Forchion said. "Freedom of religion allows for the religious use of marijuana on federal property. I'm just exercising that right." 
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"NJweedman" gives the cops the finger and gets searched while Pat doesn't.

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READ MORE HERE: SMOKE-OUT

But here is video of Pat explaining our demonstrations.

"NJweedman gets searched again, while Pat doesn't. Is this an example of racism?

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This month was the best protest yet, take a look at this: MARCH/DEMONSTRATION

finally the cops search both "Pat and NJweedman

UNTIL THIS CONVICTION IS OVERTURNED
  I will stand across the street from the Park
  on the steps of KYW, TV-3, and WYSP FM-94.1
with a sign:


SEE VIDEO OF: DEC. 18th, 2004 here!