Political Activist Ed Forchion aka NJWeedman Battles for Freedom as His Lawyer, John Vincent Saykanic, Files Historic Legal Brief on 4/20 - Cannabis Day

MOUNT HOLLY, N.J., April 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As medical marijuana smokers around the globe celebrate "4/20"--an internationally recognized date for the celebration of cannabis--Ed Forchion, aka NJWeedman announced that his lawyer, John Vincent Saykanic, Esq., will be filing a historic legal brief in New Jersey's Burlington County Superior Court, battling for not only Forchion's freedom but for the rights and recognition of marijuana smokers everywhere (Indictment 2010-08-066-I). The filing is historic as it challenges New Jersey drug legislation and may change how the state's medical and criminal marijuana laws are enforced.

On April 1, 2010, Ed Forchion was arrested in Mount Holly, New Jersey with a pound of cannabis in the trunk of his car. A Burlington County grand jury indicted Forchion in August of last year for violation of the State's drug laws. In October 2010 he pleaded not guilty.  He faces more than a decade in prison if convicted.

Forchion is a dual citizen of New Jersey and California. Forchion also operates a medical marijuana (dispensary) Temple in Hollywood, California called the "Liberty Bell Temple II."

In December 2010, Superior Court Judge Charles Delehey permitted Forchion to challenge the constitutionality of the state's marijuana laws, which makes marijuana possession illegal (and a Schedule I drug) because it purportedly has no medicinal value. At the same time, New Jersey is implementing a medical marijuana program for the treatment of needy and ill citizens since New Jersey became the 15th state to legalize the use of medical marijuana on January, 2010.

The legal brief raises eight grounds explaining why the indictment must be dismissed.  These include that Forchion, as a practicing Rastafarian, should be granted a religious exemption under the First Amendment (and Equal Protection Clause) to possess marijuana since marijuana—known as ganja in the religion—operates as a sacrament and is an integral part of the Rastafarian religious ceremony.

Other issues raised in the brief are: that marijuana should no longer be classified as a Schedule I drug (with the hardest drugs such as heroin, LSD, etc.) since even New Jersey now recognizes its medicinal value; that Forchion should be able to possess the marijuana on the grounds of "medical necessity" since he is a medical marijuana patient (approved in California, one of his two residences); and that the New Jersey marijuana laws do not provide adequate notice that he could not possess his required medicine (and religious sacrament). 

Saykanic says, "It's not only un-American that Rastafarians are discriminated against for their sacred religious views, but it's outrageous that the alleged 'illegal' drug that is their sacrament has now been acknowledged by the State to have great medicinal value, yet they continue to be persecuted."  

More information: http://www.NJWeedman.com.

Contacts:

Makeda Smith, 323-596-1522, [email protected]

Edrea Davis, [email protected]

Image: http://send2pressnewswire.com/image/11-0418-njweedman_550.jpg

This release was issued on behalf of the above organization by Send2Press(R), a unit of Neotrope(R). http://www.Send2Press.com

SOURCE Ed Forchion