Pubdate: Sun, 01 May 2016 Source: Trentonian, The (NJ) Copyright: 2016 The Trentonian Contact: http://www.trentonian.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1006 Author: Jeff Edelstein Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/people/Forchion TIME FOR THE NJWEEDMAN TO ROLL (A JOINT) OFF INTO THE SUNSET Henry Gunther was an unhappy man, according to stories told years later by the BBC and The Baltimore Sun. He was unhappy for good reason, as well: It was World War I, he was fighting on the Western Front, and he had recently been demoted back to the rank of private. But the worst was yet to come for Gunther. At 10:59 a.m. on November 11, 1918, outside the village of Villedevant-Chaumont, north of Verdun, Gunther, acting on his own and despite the shouts of his fellow soldiers, ran with his bayonet in hand and single-handedly attempted to attack a heavily fortified German position. In fact, not only did his fellow soldiers tell him to stop, the Germans also yelled at him to stop. But he didn't stop, and one machine gun blast later, he was dead. And why was everyone telling him to stop? Because the war was set to end in a minute. Literally. The armistice had been signed, to go into effect at 11 a.m. Everyone on both sides of the battle, including Gunther, knew. But Gunther, perhaps in a last-ditch effort to prove his courage, as opined by writer James M. Cain, died an unnecessary and foolish death. Ed Forchion, aka NJWEEDMAN, is starting to remind me of Gunther. Now listen, I go back over 15 years with the Weedman. In fact, he credits me with getting his movement into the limelight. Back in 2000, he showed up unannounced at the paper and asked to speak to a reporter. I pulled the short straw. He had a simple question: "You want to see me light up a joint in the State House?" My answer was equally simple: "Yep." An hour later, he's in the state Assembly chambers, former Hamilton Mayor Jack Rafferty is delivering a speech, and Forchion takes his clothes off to reveal a Keystone Kops-era jail uniform. He then lit up a joint. Took a few minutes for everything to register, but a pair of state troopers eventually took him out and the next day he's on the front page for the first time with the headline, "JOINT LEGISLATIVE SESSION." From there, Forchion's story has more twists than a too-tight doobie. But one thing is for certain: When Forchion started his quest, marijuana was illegal in all 50 states. Today, it's perfectly legal in Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Alaska and D.C. It's been decriminalized in 17 other states. Nearly 60 percent of Americans believe marijuana should be legalized, up from 12 percent in 1970, according to a Gallup poll. In short: While the war might not be over, armistices have been signed all over the place. But not in New Jersey, not under the rule of Gov. Chris Christie. Give it a few years, put someone who agrees with 60 percent of the country in the governor's chair, and I promise you New Jersey will make it legal. But in the meantime, it's illegal here. And Forchion, despite the unheard pleas of his friends and enemies, is still charging at the front lines. I suppose it makes Forchion something of a folk hero, constantly willing to put himself through the judicial system in order to make a point. I happen to agree with his point, to be clear. I believe marijuana should be 100 percent legal and I think the 25,000 people who get arrested in New Jersey each year for possession should have their records cleared. But right now? Not legal. Not at all. And yet Forchion - who has a brilliant, sharp mind - keeps running into the buzzsaw, keeps Gunthering himself for no good reason. Yes, sure, you can argue he's still fighting the fight here in New Jersey, battling for his rights. And he is. But he doesn't have to. Most of America agrees with him, along with 21 states and D.C. New Jersey will come around soon enough, along with the other holdouts. So Ed, a direct plea here: After you clear up this latest brush with the law, how about putting down the bayonet. It doesn't have to keep ending like this for you. There's a happily ever after out there in Colorado or Washington, Oregon or Alaska. Move down to D.C. Or somewhere where marijuana is decriminalized. You won the war. Enjoy it. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom