Pubdate: Wed, 05 May 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
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Ed+Forchion

MARIJUANA ADVOCATE DENIED NAME CHANGE

TRENTON - Marijuana-legalization advocate Ed Forchion cannot change his 
name to njweedman com, an appeals court has ruled.

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.

The Pemberton Township resident also hoped to use the njweedman com name in 
the fall during his third-party campaign to challenge U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton, 
R-3rd of Mount Holly.

Forchion's request was denied in March by a Superior Court judge in Camden 
County, who ruled Forchion advocates breaking marijuana laws and could use 
his name to sell the drug.

The appeals court agreed, saying Forchion advocates law breaking and his 
advocacy encourages others to possess and use marijuana.

"He admits, at the very least, to smoking marijuana as well as to 
purchasing it for himself, and on a few occasions for others as well," the 
three-judge panel wrote in its nine-page decision. "One cannot smoke 
marijuana without possessing it, and purchasing for another is a form of 
distribution."

Forchion said yesterday he plans to appeal the decision.

"I haven't sold weed in years," Forchion said. "I can't get away from the 
fact that I used to. I just want to express my political views by saying 
marijuana should be legal." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake