The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission today filed a three-count complaint against Edward Forchion, a perennial candidate known as NJ Weedman, for not filing campaign finance reports in his 2018 independent campaign for State Assembly in the 15th district.
Forchion is a local legend in Trenton, where he has challenged the state’s marijuana laws for years. The administrative action filed against him comes just two days after New Jersey voters overwhelmingly passed a referendum that legalizes adult, recreational use cannabis.
He lost an independent bid for Congress in New Jersey’s 12th district on Tuesday. He has also list races for Governor in 2005, U.S. Senate in 2006, Congress in 1998, 2000, 2004 2012 and 2016, state Assembly in 1999, 2011, 2018 and 2019, and Burlington County Freeholder in 2004.
This could be Forchion’s fourth campaign finance violation. He was previously cited in 2001, 2013 and 2014.
“What they refuse to understand is I don’t have too. I’ve never collect over $500 in campaign donations – ever. I have Nothing to report,’ Forchion said. “I use the election process as a exercise in free speech. I don’t even campaign I simply get my name on the ballot.”
New Jersey election law requires all candidates to file, even if it is a declaration that they don’t intend to spend more than $5,100.