New Jersey

‘I'm Suffering Now,' New Jersey ‘Weedman' Stuck in Jail on 4/20 Marijuana ‘Holiday'

A New Jersey marijuana activist is stuck in jail during the unofficial 4/20 marijuana holiday.

NJ.com reports Edward Forchion, also known as NJ Weedman, lost an appeal Tuesday to be released from jail before going to trial on charges of selling marijuana and witness tampering.

Superior Court Judge Peter Warshaw cited recent bail reform laws in his decision to keep Forchion detained shortly after his arrest 46 days ago. His lawyers quickly launched an appeal.

Forchion said he hoped to be released from jail in time for the re-opening of his restaurant, Weedbukx, on April 20. He called his situation a "pretrial punishment" during a phone interview from jail Tuesday.

"I'm suffering now," he said. "There's no way anybody is going to get me back those 46 days."

Forchion described himself as a political prisoner held for his marijuana activism.

He is facing charges after posting the name of a confidential informant online after prosecutors asked it to be kept confidential. He said he filed a lawsuit against the man believed to be the informant and sent legal papers to his family members. Forchion also streamed his arrest live on Facebook during a raid at his Trenton restaurant.

Prosecutors said the Facebook postings and contact with family members led to Forchion's witness tampering charges.

Forchion said he reached out to the American Civil Liberties Union regarding his detention.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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