marijuana | MySteph09 Real Raw Talk

September 27, 2012

A casualty of the “war on drugs”; the unfortunate case of Robert “NJWeedman” Forchion

“America’s federally created Cannabis Prohibition mark(ed) its seventy-fifth anniversary (on) August 2, 2012.” In 2010, approximately 900,000 people were charged with various “Marijuana” offenses, one of those arrested, “Robert Edward Forchion aka NJWeedman”, known as a longtime “Cannabis-Soldier” has never wavered in his belief of the “Justice System” and the benefits “cannabis” offers “medicinally”. On April 1, in the state of New Jersey, Mr. Forchion became a “docket number” once again. Believe it or not, at this time, the state had passed the “New Jersey’s Compassionate Marijuana Act of 2010”. In May 2012, Mr. Forchion was “found guilty on the charge of fourth-degree possession of marijuana, but [the jury was] deadlocked in their deliberations on the count of possession with the intent to distribute”. Currently, Mr. Forchion who returned to California for medical treatment is preparing to return for his retrial that starts in October.

Originally, the retrial was to start Sept. 4 but the date was changed to Oct. 10. Mr. Forchion believes the date was changed when he began “sending out Press Releases pointing out “JURY RIGHTS DAY” was Sept 5^th.” Also, he discussed “Jury Nullification”. Recently, in the state of New Hampshire, “a defendant was acquitted with this defense.”As a long-time advocate for jury nullification, he was pleased for the victory despite being denied expert witnesses when he had considered the same religious defense argument for his previous trial. According to him, in the state of “New Jersey Constitution” it clearly states in article 1 (6)… “In all prosecutions or indictments…the truth may be given to the jury as evidence….the jury may judge the law as well as the facts.” Skeptically, he states, the court notified him of a “scheduling conflict”regarding the change of his court date.

Several days ago, he made a statement in “Facebook”, that he advised the court he would not return for trial because his “civil rights” were being violated. Although, he will be representing himself, the court has to provide him an attorney to assist in his defense. Mr. Forchion is being denied “due process” by the “Public Defender’s Office who is refusing to obtain witness’s because they don’t like my defense” which violates his “6th amendment” right to obtaining witnesses to testify in his favor. He doesn’t want to return, without his witnesses & case being “trial ready”. “The last time I came to Jersey and was ready for trial, it was postponed from April 10th to May 1st; that delay seriously hurt me financially. Plus, I do not want a delay, my health is at risk.” He is receiving a treatment regimen of an experimental drug, called “Densuab” for cancer at an Oncology center in Santa Monica.

Mr. Forchion considers himself a “protest candidate” in his current race as a Representative, for “Third Congressional District”, New Jersey. “Obviously, I’m protesting the current marijuana laws, by running for office under the Legalize Marijuana Party. It is my hope that others who feel the same as I do would simply vote for me, to help send a message to the Democrats and Republicans alike who wage this ungodly war on peaceful potheads.”