Pubdate: Fri, 04 Apr 2014
Source: Trentonian, The (NJ)
Copyright: 2014 The Trentonian
Contact:  http://www.trentonian.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1006
Author: Sherrina V. Navani

NJ WEEDMAN FINED BY ELEC FOR FUNDING HIS CAMPAIGN ON Undisclosed Pot Sales

TRENTON - An election funded by weed apparently isn't
legal.

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission has fined Robert
Edward Forchion Jr. - a.k.a. Weedman - over $13,000 for not
appropriately filing all the election contributions he has received
during his last three election campaigns.

"At the time the only way I could finance my election was through the
sale of marijuana, how do they want me to file paperwork for that?"
questioned Weedman. "I couldn't say I sold 2 ounces of weed for 1,000
(campaign) flyers."

Forchion said he tried to collect money but no one would contribute to
his campaign fund, so he decided to bartering pot for campaign
advertising.

The commission's three-count campaign violation decision, released
Thursday, says that when Forchion ran for State Assembly in the 8th
Legislative District during the 2011 general elections, he violated
the Campaign Reporting Act by not sending in his campaign finance
reports 29 days-prior to the election.

According to Weedman, this is not the first time he's snuffed the
commission, as he has chosen not to share how he's been able to gain
funding to promote his candidacy for The Legalize Marijuana Platform.
"I've been running for U.S. Congress since 1999 and I have always
refused to submit the paperwork because of my 5th Amendment right not
to incriminate myself," he said. "I'm a pot head - this is what I do."
The poster-boy for legalizing cannabis, Forchion recently completed a
nine month stint in a Burlington County jail for violating probation
on possession of marijuana charges.

The 49 year-old suffers debilitating bone cancer and he says he is in
constant pain due to the large tumors all over his body. Although he
is a registered medical marijuana card holder in his home state of
California, the self-proclaimed "marijuana smuggler," was visiting his
children and ex-wife in Browns Mills, in 2010, when he was pulled over
by a state trooper.

When searched Forchion's pockets were stuffed with a significant
amount of weed, which he claims he kept in his pockets because it was
the only treatment which alleviated his constant pain. "I carry
marijuana in my pockets like some people carry aspirin," he said.

Now a free man, he wants to continue his activism work and hopefully
make pot as assessable as any other pain medication, for everybody.

The ELEC's three-count verdict outlines numerous correspondence sent
to Weedman's home, beginning in September 2011, requiring him to fill
out and file Report of Contributions and Expenditures or the
alternative, to file with the Commission a Candidate Sworn Statement,
all contributions over $300.

The mailings kept coming and he kept ignoring them, leaving them
unopened and instead using them as a coaster for his pot, until Thursday.

"They can fine me but it is really unenforceable, that's the funny
part. ... I guess they can put me in jail and all that stuff," Weedman
said confidently. "Who knows maybe a contempt of court charge, maybe
they can wiggle their way in - but really it's unenforceable."

The commission report says otherwise. "[I]f no moneys, loans, paid
personal services or other things of value were contributed, the
report shall so indicate, and if no expenditures were paid or
incurred, the report shall likewise so indicate."

The maximum statutory penalty has been imposed, according to the
decision, because Weedman continues not filing the report as required
by state law.  
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D