NJ Weedman Going to Court Today to Fight Evesham Township

Ed Forchion, aka: NJ Weedman, has had a full plate regarding his involvement with the government over marijuana. Today, (6-27-13) he will appear in court to fight a search that was conducted under the pretense that the officer has, "never seen a person wearing a weed shirt that didn't have weed on them". He was pulled over in Evesham Township and he recorded video of the event that can be seen here:




Because of a small patch on his vest, NJ Weedman was searched, where upon the officer found a small amount of personally prescribed marijuana of Ed's. This led to an arrest and today is the day that Ed goes again before a Judge and begins a fight over the legitimacy of marijuana law.

After his arrest, Ed put out a Brief that questioned the legitimacy of criminal statutes when NJ law distinctly recognizes marijuana as a medicine. So far, several cases have been dismissed as a result of Ed's open-access Brief. This means that while these cases are not going to court to settle the question of whether the medical laws prevail, several young, innocent, non-violent smokers are free to continue about their days without worry of jail, court costs, fines and other nasty side effects of getting found guilty.

We'll be keeping up with Ed as things unfold. Since this was a very personal amount (grams), the likelihood of this being a precedent setting case is low. Nonetheless, if Ed gets this case dismissed or otherwise, he is pro full legalization of marijuana and he'll be continuing the good fight far into the future.

OPINION : Drug War is "Horrendous"

To what degree do we separate opinion and fact?

This is an opinion piece, though "Drug War is 'Horrendous'" sounds like a fact. I've seen stories of innocent people killed in bad raids. I've seen stories of children taken from their parents by the State over a bowl and a few grams of marijuana. This is not acceptable. This is not what justice and law was put here to do.

We've seen a time of police state establishment unlike any other: the Boston Bombing manhunt where iron-clad war vehicles rolled down suburban streets "cold-calling" houses and searching without warrant. Circumstance does not matter: we NEED to stop forfeiting our rights so easily!

Every time you file taxes, you are supporting the drug war. Every time you don't film a cop making an arrest, you are supporting the drug war. We need to wake up and put our collective foot down on the illegal branches of our government as well as the illegal use of surveillance that is so clearly occurring, (thanks Snowden).

NA Poe declared boldly in pre-trial that the fact that he wasn't being released that day was "horrendous" and right he was. Everything about the drug war is horrendous. We've made a horror show of our fringe communities like Kensington and North Philadelphia because we consistently refuse to address the drug problem in a real way.

Cops are content getting paid to be big boy security safety officers. Drug addicts are content getting drugs illegally. City services is content hauling away the corpses of the OD victims. Everything in the system seems so utterly unchangeable, even when talking about the lives of family... friends... loved ones...

Addiction is an illness, but like Mitch Hedberg said,

"Alcoholism is the only disease you can get in trouble for. Compare these two sentences; 'Dammit Mitch, you're an alcoholic.' and 'Dammit Mitch, you have lupus.' One does not sound like the other."

We can and must do better. Sign a petition. Join an event. Do SOMETHING. Just don't be another generation of quiet, closet-hidden hippies in fear of the law like we saw in the 60's. Plug a gun with something better than a flower. Let's get back to basics.

Smoke Down Prohibition Six

In standard tradition, June is scheduled for a Smoke Down Prohibition event. This new event, called a "drug war Horror tour of Philly" will feature stops at buildings and places responsible for upholding the insane policies of for-profit prison racketeering, unjust persecution against non-violent criminals and overall dickishness.

What sets this new event apart from our May 18th event, or the events prior, is that at the last Smoke Down, it seemed we had drawn some unpleasant attention from the park rangers. Adam and Poe were arrested before our eyes, leading to a very somber, (and very sober for Poe) time when people gathered outside of the Federal Detention Center.

Collectively, we knew that we couldn't abandon the cause and that Poe and Adam would want Smoke Down to continue even if they were in jail all through the month of June. Well, they're out, and now it's a full party for this next event.

Where the Panic Hour and Philly NORML are planning on taking us with this march, there has been no mention. This is probably to "shake" the heat or to have the opportunity to split if things get hairy.

Cold grey fences and dozens of officers may be in place again come the 30th. There could be worse than we've seen. Maybe the publicity of the first arrests was enough to ward off resistance against peaceful protest. We will see in short time.

Looking for Philanthropic Assistance in Sponsoring a Petition to the PA Law and Justice Dept. Senate Subcommittee

If you haven't, please sign this petition in support of Daylin Leach's bill, SB528, the "Regulate Marijuana Act" that would make PA the keystone state of legalization on the East Coast, please sign it!

Now that that is done, I'd like to make a sincere effort to push for those interested in cannabis legalization in PA to put up a few bucks and sponsor this petition through Change.org. If we could generate even a few hundred dollars a week, we would see growth from the current standing signature count of 1,580 to upwards of 5,000 - 10,000. It has been said that politicians consider another 100 votes for every action taken by petitions, votes or calls that they receive. This final funding push is all this really needs to be taken to the level of "not important" to "urgent".

Adam Kokesh Released From Jail: 'Played Hardball. Won'

In an unexpected move, the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia at 700 Arch St. where protests have been waging since the 18th over Adam Kokesh and N.A. Poe, has released Adam Kokesh.

Not only did the detention center release Adam, his Federal charge has been dropped in place for two citations, neither of which Adam signed, as shown above.

In the words of Ice Cube, "It was a good day". Adam is now free, joining Poe in the glory of sunshine and continued activism. Is this the last of the government intervention we'll see in the face of legalizing cannabis? Hopefully it will at least be the last time we see such a blatant abuse of authoritative power where Miranda rights were skipped and police saw no issue with gripping up a citizen who has not committed any crime.

"Released 130524 with felony charges reduced to citations which I refused to sign. Played hardball. Won. Talk to you Monday." ~ James Babb

NJ Weedman Frustrated over 'Clipped Wings'

Ed Forchion on a charity flight to LA for his cancer treatment

NJ Weedman, aka: Ed Forchion, has been a well-known metro area face for the controversy surrounding his beliefs on marijuana. Lately, however, Ed has been using experimental bone cancer treatments available only in LA to combat a rare form of bone cancer called "giant cell tumors". Despite having had tumors removed and treating with traditional means, some of Ed's tumors are growing.

X-Rays of Ed's Bone tumors

"This one got taken out but this one and this one are growing," Ed explained in an interview while looking over his x-rays. Despite what everyone thinks, the experimental treatment that he receives in LA is not actually a cannabis treatment, (though Ed has explained that he's trying to implement as much cannabis oil as possible, just in case) it is a new type of bone hardener that doctors believe may combat the cancer.

Mmm, Mmm, First Class deliciousness.
No wonder "No Pictures", look
what the common man is
missing!!!

The high life at 30,000 feet in transit to LA

Recently, Ed thought he had been granted a reprieve from the forces that work to screw him over. He had secured a charity flight service that committed that they would fly him to and from LA for his treatments. Of course, he was very appreciative.

Ed enjoying the service and hospitality aboard the flight

Unfortunately, Ed's luck didn't change for the better. Upon posting several pictures to Facebook of the plane and the cabin in excitement, Ed inadvertently broke some rules that had apparently not been explained.

"They didn't tell me nothing," Ed said in defense. "If I had known that [taking pictures] was against the rules, I wouldn't have taken 'em." Regardless of his apologies, the sponsoring charity organization for his first flight denied him future flights after he arrived in LA.

Ed was awaiting his treatment at the hospital when the limo driver that taxi'ed him there came in and said that he had to leave. This limo driver said that he was called off the assignment and was to report back immediately.

Ed was shocked. According to what he'd been told, he would be assured travel between PHL to LA and taxi service before and after his treatment. He called in to find out what had happened but was met with only the basics.

A gentleman from the charity spoke with Ed in a very angry tone: he was not happy that pictures of the plane had made it online. Ed was able to keep the driver on hand while working things out over the phone. While they didn't want to, the charity service provided him a flight back from his treatment via commercial air liner. 

Ed was told after returning home that he would not be able to get continue getting charity flights. Apparently, from the conversation that Ed had, the owner of the plane was contacted directly with a complaint that the photos were being distributed. Ed doesn't have direct proof, but he's confident that it was either State or Federal authorities.

Who's at the controls of charity flights? Can't someone help Ed out?

"I don't have a way to prove it, but I know it was them." Ed stated, assuring me that he knows that the government was responsible for his plight.

His logical explanation was that few people that follow him on Facebook would call in a complaint about charity he receives and that it is likely that Federal and/or State authorities would have the resources to look up the plane owner with ease using just the ID numbers and letters on the side of the turbine.

This, if actually a government action, would not be the first of its kind. Ed has been targeted by the government in LA as well while he was operating a State legal medicinal marijuana shop. His crop was raided, his shop was taken away and all of his assets were frozen. Because of this previous altercation, Ed said that he's sure that the government is trying to "screw him", and he might be right.

"This is twice now that they did this to me. They're deliberately making it harder for me because they want me to fail. They want my message to fail." Ed said.

N.A. Poe Released; Kokesh to Await Trial in Jail

According to sources on site, N.A. Poe will be released from Federal Detention and Adam Kokesh will be staying in until the next trial.

"This just in - our prophet and savior, man of the people, N.A. Poe has been blessed by Justice the Guardian of Liberty and is being released shortly on ROR. Praise to Jah." ~The Panic Hour

"Kokesh is refusing to give his address, so he's staying in jail for now." ~ James Babb, Activist and noted FIJA Supporter

Adam Kokesh displaying what's imagined to be .02% of his arsenal

According to sources at the Federal Detention Center at 700 Arch Street in Philadelphia where N.A. Poe and Adam Kokesh have been kept since the 18th, Adam Kokesh will remain imprisoned on the grounds of non-compliance as he has yet to release his address in Pretrial Questioning.

N.A. Poe Released on Recognizance, 5/23/2013

On a brighter note, N.A. Poe of the Panic Hour will be Released on Recognizance shortly, as said on the Panic Hour's Facebook page. Expect more details shortly.