THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS

'POT PARTY HOPEFUL'

Edward Forchion walked to the front of a packed municipal courtroom in Cherry Hill yesterday and placed a small marijuana plant on a table. On the pot was written, "Grown by God." Then he returned to his seat. The judge hadn't arrived. The astonished crowd didn't move. And for two or three minutes, the plant sat there, a wild, green thing in a room of   suits and plastic desks, until a police officer, smiling, took it away.

   So began the latest chapter in Edward "Rob" Forchion's strange quest to win acceptance for his favorite herb.

   In hopes of legalizing marijuana, he has gotten his name on the ballot in November for both Camden County freeholder and U.S. congress, even as he sank deeper into trouble with the law. Forchion appeared in court yesterday to plead not guilty to possession of a controlled dangerous substance -- despite having openly smoked a joint in both the Camden County Democratic headquarters and the office of U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews. "I think the whole drug war is a sham,"   Forchion said.

   "I have done things that I was embarrassed about, but not this. I always say, I love my country, but I fear my government." A former long haul trucker, the Chesilhurst resident is unemployed and facing charges that could jail him for 18 years. Most weeknights, he parks his black van along a busy road, sets out books, pamphlets and T-shirts and holds forth upon the benefits of pot to anyone interested.

   Sometimes the cops chase him out. Sometimes they sit nearby. Sometimes they just wave. Often motorists stop to chat with Forchion, he said.

   Despite his legal troubles, hostility from some cops and recently getting Maced in Gloucester Township, Forchion claims he gets enthusiastic support. No one who stops disagrees with his contention that marijuana has medicinal uses. Forchion claims it has helped ease his asthmatic breathing. His van gets plenty of supportive honks from the passing traffic. Not even the cops seem keen to arrest him. But last year he got busted for possession of marijuana in excess of 40 pounds.

   For some politicians, political careers end with criminal proceedings. Forchion hopes to end his criminal proceedings by becoming a politician. He hopes that acceptance of marijuana use will void the charges against him. He will run for office as the founder of the Legalize Marijuana Party.

   But Forchion was the first person charged under New Jersey's recently toughened drug law, signed last August, which made possession of marijuana a far more serious offense than before. With a stroke of the pen, Forchion said, Gov. Christie Whitman made him a first degree felon.

   He said younger cops give him a harder time than older ones. "The older cops have fought this 'drug war' for a long time, so they can distinguish between marijuana and other drugs. The younger cops are all graduates of DARE programs. They believe pot is really dangerous."

   "My daughters learn in school that marijuana is a dangerous drug," added Forchion, who doesn't smoke tobacco, drink or do other drugs. "But they've seen me smoke marijuana all their lives and they know it's not true. What happens when the school tells them heroin is a dangerous drug? Do they figure that's not true, either? " No court date has been set for Forchion's most recent arrest. But he looks forward to a more important trial: when voters go to the polls next fall.

   "In November, you'll get an idea of the numbers who are for this,"   Forchion said. "Just wait and see."

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In 2000 NJWEEDMAN went to prison, when he returned to society he needed some cash and sold his van. Now he needs another!!!