NJWEEDMAN’s aim to become congressman hits a snag

 Ed Forchion, a pro-marijuana activist known as NJ Weedman, in front of his store in Trenton. (AP Photo)

Ed Forchion, a pro-marijuana activist known as NJ Weedman, in front of his store in Trenton. (AP Photo)

The activist known as NJWEEDMAN plans to keep battling for a spot on the November ballot in his campaign to represent New Jersey’s 3rd District in Congress.

A judge has declared that Edward Forchion is not eligible to run because he lacked enough valid signatures on his nominating petition. The “Legalize Marijuana Party” candidate said the judge found he was three signatures short — of the necessary 100. “I submitted 208 and the Democratic Party Committee challenged every single one of them. They got nitpicky on some of them,” he said. “I think on a recount and a re-review there will be numerous people that will be reinstated and I will be over the 100.” Forchion doesn’t belong on the ballot because he did not comply with the signature minimum, said Matt Farrauto, spokesman for the  Democratic State Committee. He said it is not “nit-picky” to expect a prospective candidate to meet the requirement.

Forchion said he wants to run for office because he believe too many people are arrested on marijuanua-related charges. 

“I don’t believe anyone should be arrested for a plant, and I want to be that cannabis candidate that makes it to Congress and gets to champion that cause,” he said.

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The 3rd District covers much of Burlington and Ocean counties. 

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