Pubdate: Wed, 25 Feb 2004
Source: Burlington County Times (NJ)
Copyright: 2004 Calkins Newspapers. Inc.
Contact: http://www.phillyburbs.com/feedback/content_bct.shtml
Website: http://www.phillyburbs.com/burlingtoncountytimes/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2128
Author: Mike Mathis, Burlington County Times
Note: The U.S. Marijuana Party withdrew support from Ed Forchion's campaign 
for office - and took down the New Jersey Marijuana Party website - in 
January due to differences between the Party's policy positions and those 
of Mr. Forchion.
Cited: U.S. Marijuana Party http://www.usmjparty.com/

ONE MORE CHANCE TO CHANGE HIS NAME

TRENTON - A Superior Court judge will again decide whether marijuana 
legalization advocate Ed Forchion should be allowed to change his name to 
njweedman com.

An appeals court ruled yesterday that a Superior Court judge in Camden 
County should not have denied Forchion's request to change his name in 
February 2002 because Forchion was not at the hearing.

At the time, the Pemberton Township man was in Riverfront State Prison in 
Camden, serving 10 years on a marijuana trafficking charge. He has since 
been released.

The appeals court told the Superior Court to schedule another hearing 
before March 26 to permit Forchion to argue his case in person.

Forchion maintains he wants to change his name to promote his advocacy for 
reform of marijuana laws, not to encourage the sale or use of marijuana as 
the Camden County Prosecutor's Office contends.

Forchion also hopes to use the njweedman.com name in the fall during his 
campaign for the seat occupied by U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton, R-3rd of Mount Holly.

He is running with the backing of the U.S. Marijuana Party.

The name change is a factor in a federal lawsuit Forchion filed against 
Comcast Corp. after the cable giant declined to air commercials for his 
campaign.

"It comes down to whether I use my name to advocate legalization," Forchion 
said yesterday. "I'm using my name to show what side of the fight I'm on."

Camden County Prosecutor Vincent P. Sarubbi opposes the name change. He 
said he fears if the court grants Forchion's request, a flood of 
applications for name changes "promoting all manner of illegal professions" 
would follow.

"Clearly, the name change is designed to promote illegal activity on the 
Internet," Sarubbi said. "It is the state's obligation to oppose name 
changes that promote illegal conduct."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake