Advocating the reform of the marijuana laws. The state was particularly irked that Forchion had the nerve to film several public service announcements propounding his views. Those commercials were never aired.

Forchion appeared before a three-judge Intensive Supervision Program (parole) panel in early December to seek his reinstatement as a parolee, but that panel adjourned without ruling or setting a date for a new hearing.

On Tuesday (12/31/2002), US District Judge Joseph Irenas scheduled a January 21 hearing on Forchion's "Writ of Habeas Corpus", ordering the State of New Jersey to "show cause" for incarcerating him. Judge Irenas told the court, "Forchion probably would not have been returned to prison had he not spoken out about the drug laws".

Forchion, who is a Rastafarian, has led a quixotic crusade to reform the marijuana laws. He has run twicee for U.S. Congress, he allegedly smoked marijuana on the floor of the state Assembly in an act of civil disobedience (3/16/2000), and he once sought political asylum in Canada from the marijuana charges that led to his current troubles. But now, with New Jersey (ISP) parole authorities throwing him in prison because of his political beliefs, he is what Amnesty International would call a "prisoner of conscience," incarcerated not for drug activity but for exercising his constitutionally protected freedom of political speech.