Difference between revisions 556267495 and 557558363 on enwiki

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{{BLP sources|date=May 2013}}
{{autobiography|date=May 2013}}⏎
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[[File:NJWEEDMAN -aka- Robert Edward Forchion Jr.jpg|thumbnail|left|May 4th, 2013 Lancastor Pa]]
'''Robert Edward Forchion''' (born  July 23, 1964), is an African-American [[Cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] activist and a [[perennial candidate]] for various [[New Jersey]] elected offices.  He is a resident of the [[Browns Mills, New Jersey|Browns Mills]] section of [[Pemberton Township, New Jersey]] and [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|California]].

(contracted; show full)

[[File:Liberty Bell Temple 1.jpg|thumb|The Liberty Bell Temple in Los Angeles, Hollywood Boulevard, founded by Edward Forchion in 2008]]In 2008 he opened the Liberty Bell Temple II at 5642 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood California, a Rastafarian themed medical marijuana collective.
    

==Bone Cancer==

Forchion was diagnosed with rare type of bone cancer in 2001 while at Riverfront State Prison. While serving time on 2000 marijuana conviction. He continues to suffers from painful giant cell tumors as well as benign cancerous lesions. He successfully applied for and became a registered medical marijuana patient in the State of California, in 2006 for chronic pain. As well the retardation of tumor growths. [http://www.alternet.org/story/9257/pot_shrinks_tumors%3B_government_knew_in_%2774 (contracted; show full)asthma attack, {{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} After being discharged from the [[Marine Corps]], he changed his name to Edward Robert Forchion, and fraudulently enlisted in the [[United States Army]]. Despite the warnings from the government, Forchion continued to use cannabis medicinally, as well as socially, throughout his enlistment in the Army. {{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} On April 18, 1988, he married his first wife Pam at [[Fort Bliss|Fort Bliss, Texas]]. Not long after, on June 21
st, 1990, he received an honorable discharge from the Army. Leaving the military life behind, Forchion took several jobs as a long distance truck driver. The life of a trucker seemed to agree with Forchion, who, in 1993, bought and started his own coast to coast trucking company, aptly named, "Forchion Trucking, inc."

According to his website ( www.njweedman.com ), Forchion became a practicing [[Rastafari movement|Rastafarian]]in 1994.<ref name="www.njweedman.com"/>

(contracted; show full)sections, Forchion has challenged, and U.S. courts have so far rejected, his interpretation of the law:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethiopianzioncopticchurch.org/Cases/forchion.aspx |title=''United States v. Forchion'', No. 04-949, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14791, 2005 WL 2989604 (2005) |publisher=Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church Website  |accessdate=2011-09-04}}</ref> While a jury in 2012 did acquit him despite his being in violation of the law.

===2000 marijuana conviction===


On November 24, 1997, Forchion was arrested on [[illegal drug trade|marijuana trafficking]] charges by the [[Camden County, New Jersey|Camden County]] Drug Task Force and locally-based [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] agents, after being found in possession of over 25 pounds (11.3 kilograms) of the drug ( 39&nbsp;lbs.,).  As trial commenced, a plea deal was offered:  Forchion would plead guilty in exchange for a flat 10-year prison sentence.  On September 20, 2000, he was convicted of ''conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana'' by Judge Ronald Thompson and started his sentence.<ref name="Google Scholar">{{cite web|url=http://www.aclu-nj.org/download_file/view_inline/332/487/ |title=''Forchion v. Intensive Supervised Parole, et. al.'', 240 F.Su(contracted; show full)*[http://www.njweedman.com Home page of NJWEEDMAN]
*[http://www.state.nj.us/lps/elections/electionshome.html New Jersey Division of Elections]
{{Portal bar|Biography|Cannabis|New Jersey}}

{{Persondata
| NAME              = Forchion, Edward
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
 American cannabis activist
| DATE OF BIRTH     = July 23, 1964
| PLACE OF BIRTH    = July 23, 1964
| DATE OF DEATH     =
| PLACE OF DEATH    =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Forchion, Edward}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:New Jersey politicians]]
[[Category:African-American politicians]]
[[Category:American cannabis activists]]
[[Category:American military personnel]]
[[Category:American Rastafarians]]
[[Category:Claflin University alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Camden County, New Jersey]]⏎
[[Category:People from Pemberton Township, New Jersey]]