Pubdate: Tue, 19 Sep 2000 Source: Inquirer (PA) Copyright: 2000 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc. Contact: 400 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19101 Website: http://www.phillynews.com/inq/ Forum: http://interactive.phillynews.com/talk-show/ Author: Aamer Madhani, Inquirer staff writer MARIJUANA ADVOCATE READIES FOR HIS TRIAL Despite a judge's order, Edward Forchion plans to bring up jury nullification. Jury selection is to begin today. Barred from trying to convince a jury that the government's marijuana laws are unconstitutional, Edward Forchion - an advocate for the legalization of marijuana who is to go on trial this week on a charge of conspiracy to distribute 40 pounds of cannabis - has vowed to press on anyway. Yesterday, Judge Stephen Thompson of Camden County Superior Court reaffirmed another judge's ruling to bar Forchion from introducing the concept of jury nullification to his jury. John Wynne, assistant prosecutor, successfully argued that, although a jury has the power to nullify a law, the right should not be advertised. Jury selection is to start today for Forchion, 36, of Browns Mills, in a case that stems from a 1997 arrest in Bellmawr. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in state prison. He has been out on bail since his arrest. He said yesterday that he would try to use jury nullification despite the judge's order. "This is a nightmare for me," Forchion said. "I'm hoping I get a jury that understands and sees how ridiculous these laws are." Police say Forchion and his brother, Russell, arranged for a large shipment of marijuana from Arizona to the Bellmawr Industrial Park. Eric Poole, who signed for the Federal Express delivery, also was arrested. Poole and Russell Forchion pleaded guilty to lesser charges and served short sentences. According to court documents, Russell Forchion testified that he and his brother had helped arrange the delivery. Edward Forchion, who used to maintain an apartment in Tucson, Ariz., when he was a cross-country truck driver, said that he had no part in arranging the shipment and that he had never sold drugs. In the past, he has acknowledged doing some eccentric things to make his point that marijuana laws are unjust. Calling himself "NJweedman," he has fired up marijuana cigarettes in the chambers of the state legislature, in front of the Liberty Bell, and in the offices of U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D., N.J.). He also has entered politics and is running for Burlington County freeholder and the First District congressional seat on the issue of changing marijuana laws. Forchion said he equated laws on drugs to statutes that affirmed slavery. "I know the truth," he said. "It's a stupid law, so I plan on continuing to openly advocate marijuana." He said he took satisfaction in the fact that a few elected officials have begun talking about the need to decriminalize marijuana, among them independent Gov. Jesse Ventura in Minnesota and Republican Gov. Gary Johnson in New Mexico. On a personal level, Forchion, who is a Rastafarian, said marijuana laws violated his freedom of religion. He said smoking marijuana played an important role in his worship. Beyond religious grounds, Forchion said, it is wrong to criminalize marijuana when other drugs, such as alcohol and tobacco, are legal. "The difference is tobacco is the product of rich, white men, and so it goes untouched by the government," he said.