The Legalize Marijuana Party is a political third party in the U.S. state of New Jersey established in 1998 by Edward Forchion to protest cannabis prohibition.
Gubernatorial candidates
Forchion was nominated by petition to run for Governor of New Jersey in 2005. He received 9,137 votes. While Forchion was campaigning for governor, his home in Pemberton Township was vandalized, August 25, during the night by someone who spray-painted a 6-foot cross together with the words “Get Jesus.” Burlington County police investigated the incident, calling it a hate crime because Forchion is a person of color. But Forchion told reporters that he thought he had been targeted because of his Rastafari religious beliefs, not because he is African American.
Results in gubernatorial elections Year Candidate Popular Votes Percentage 2005 Edward Forchion 9,137 0.4%
New Jersey election results Results in county elections Forchion ran for Camden County Freeholder in 1999, and Burlington County Freeholder in 2000. In a bid for Burlington County Freeholder in 2004, Forchion got 2,932 votes.
Results in New Jersey state elections Year Office Candidate Popular Votes Percentage 1999 NJ General Assembly 8 Edward Forchion 659 1.2% 2011 NJ General Assembly 8 Edward Forchion 1,653 1.9%
Results in federal elections Year Office Candidate Popular Votes Percentage 1998 US Representative 1 Edward Forchion 1,257 1.0% 2000 US Representative 1 Edward Forchion 1,959 0.9% 2006 US Senator Edward Forchion 11,593 0.5% 2012 US Representative 3 Edward Forchion 1,956 0.6% 2014 US Representative 12 Don Dezarn 1,330 0.9% 2016 US Representative 12 Edward Forchion 6,094 2.1%
History
In 2014, Forchion, otherwise known as NJWeedman, filed a lawsuit in an attempt to get onto the ballot in New Jersey's 3rd congressional district. A judge dismissed the lawsuit.
See also Cannabis political parties of the United States
References