By Mike Mathis 
BCT staff writer 

STRATFORD - Ed "NJ Weedman" Forchion, a candidate for the state Assembly in the 8th District and for Camden County Freeholder, was arrested Monday on charges of marijuana possession, authorities said. Forchion, 35, a Chesilhurst resident who is running for both seats as a member of the Legalize Marijuana Party of South Jersey, was stopped for speeding in this Camden County community at 11:44 p.m., police Capt. Nick DiEttore said. A routine background check determined that Forchion was wanted in Camden, Woodbury and Gloucester Township for failing to appear in municipal court within the last year on charges ranging from possession of small amounts of marijuana to resisting arrest and motor vehicle violations, DiEttore said. All committed while running for office last year. After Stratford police ticketed Forchion for speeding, driving with a suspended license, driving without insurance and driving with an expired license, he was transported to the Camden County Jail, with bail set at $2,995 bail, DiEttore said. Forchion yesterday said that a supporter he declined to identify posted the bail.

 Forchion said he did not appear in municipal court because he wants the marijuana charges heard by a jury, which he believes would nullify marijuana laws and vindicate him. "This is a prime example of why we need a change in (marijuana) laws,'' Forchion said "I was thrown in a pigsty (the Camden County Jail) because of a right the Constitution gives us, the right to a jury trial."I have refused to participate in a kangaroo court the forbids a jury, so i was arrested. The constitution doesn't say you have a right to a jury trial -"except in municipal courts"!

 Forchion was arrested Nov. 24, 1997, in Bellmawr, Camden County, and charged with possession of more than 25 pounds of marijuana, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. In April 1998, he openly smoked marijuana cigarettes at the Camden County Democratic headquarters in Cherry Hill and at the headquarters of U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews, D-1st of Haddon Heights, in Haddon Heights while campaigning as a candidate for Camden County Freeholder and for Congress. Forchion faces Republican incumbents Francis Bodine of Moorestown and Larry Chatzidakis of Mount Laurel, and Democrats Marie Hall of Medford Lakes and George Fallon of Waterford Township in the 8th District state Assembly race on Nov. 2. 

Thursday, October 14, 1999