Pubdate: Fri, 15 Jul 2005
Source: Community News (NJ)
Copyright: 2005 Community News
Contact:  http://www.sjcommunitynews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2291
Author: Rachael Bakos

WEEDMAN MAKES GUBERNATORIAL BID

BROWNS MILLS - Local resident Edward Forchion, 40, of Browns Mills, 
or NJWeedman.com as he likes to be called is taking his cause a step further.

"NJWeedman.com 4 Governor" is his latest message.

According to NJWeedman.com, Forchion has one big problem.

"I can't even campaign in public without being accosted by the 
police,," Forchion said in an interview Sunday" With the arrest 
record to prove it NJWeedman.com, or Edward Forchion as he is known 
in the system is no stranger to the police.

He said he has been arrested more than 30 times, mostly for 
protesting. Recently he said he was not allowed on press row in the 
State House for the simple reason that it was not open to the public. 
Forchion states that he was given no written information that press 
row was being closed to the public. His website, NJWeedman.com, 
explains in detail this and other similar experiences he has 
undergone. The website covers his ongoing mission extensively.

The main reason Forchion is running for governor is to send a message 
to those that will hear him.

"I am not that high that I think I am going to win. I just want to 
give the finger to the system and rally others who feel the same 
way.," Forchion said.

His platform is that "Cannabis smokers are the only segment of the 
population begging to be taxed.

"We believe in taxation not incarceration," Forchion said.

His proposed plan to tax cannabis would help solve three big problems 
he foresees for NJ in the next four years. Property taxes, a budget 
crisis, and a freedom crisis which he thinks is approaching at an 
alarming rate are all major concerns.

"We are under the guise of fighting terrorism and drugs," Forchion said.

Forchion said he is qualified to be governor because he has served the state.

"I served in our government's military and prison system. Now I want 
a leadership position," Forchion said.

Forchion said that the last several governors of the state have not 
served well.

"Christie Whitman was the worst," Forchion said.

Forchion said consolidating the school districts in the state would 
lead to permanent property tax relief for residents.

"We don't need 180 (school) districts in New Jersey," Forchion said.

Forchion said legalizing marijuana would produce a large tax for the state.

"It would be in the billions," Forchion said.

Forchion also said that limiting the terms of elected officials to 
one or two, would end corruption, along with increasing the size of 
the New Jersey attorney general's office.

The website NJWeedman.com can be accessed for detailed information by 
anyone wishing to learn more about his opinions. The website will 
also be offering a CD for sale by the end of this month, according to Forchion.

The CD features the song NJWeedman Theme Song-Superhero to the 
Potheads which is about voting for him, performed by The Infamous LOS 
band from Trenton.

Proceeds from the sale of the CD will be used to run his campaign for office.

This and the donations he receives from the website are his only 
campaign fund sources.

NJWeedman.com is a website with more than 500,000 hits overall in 
just two years.

According to Forchion, people from all walks of life are interested 
in his cause.

He is just doing what Bob Marley said to in the song "Stand Up For 
Your Rights."

In his last run for a state office which was this past November "The 
US Marijuana Party" got 7,000 votes in Burlington County. That was 
the most for any 3rd party candidate on the card according to Forchion.

"Take a toke and vote for the weedman," Forchion said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth