'NJ Weedman' Engages In Hunger Strike While In Prison For Witness Tampering

Ed Forchion, aka “Weedman” is in the 11th day of a hunger strike as he seeks a bail hearing on witness tampering charges.

“NJ Weedman has been jailed by the state of New Jersey since March 3,” according to a post on his Facebook page, which is being maintained by his supporters while he is in jail.

He claims the state is denying his federal constitutional right to bail under the 8th amendment. He has filed a Federal Writ of Habeas Corpus in federal court in Trenton, according to the post.

The witness tampering charges relate to his arrest last year following a raid at the Weedman’s Joint cafe and sanctuary. The raid came after community complaints about the constant foot traffic in and out of the establishment at all hours.

A search of the premises allegedly turned up 56 grams of marijuana and 32 grams of edible marijuana candy in the sanctuary, along with $85 in a jar that read, “Nothing is free donate.”

More than a pound of marijuana butter was allegedly found in the kitchen, and 10 grams of marijuana and a large amount of drug paraphernalia were allegedly found in an additional private shop area.

Officers allegedly found 1,055 grams of marijuana, five grams of hashish, five ounces of promethazine, scales, $60 in cash and packaging materials in the office, and 28 additional grams of marijuana in the backyard.

A search of Forchion allegedly revealed $330. A Toyota Matrix was seized as drug proceeds. Two other cars were seized from the scene pending further investigation. Forchion and several people at the cafe were arrested without incident.

The tampering charges followed in March after Forchion attempted to make contact with a confidential informant who tipped off authorities prior to the raid, according to nj.com. He has been in jail on those charges without bail ever since.

The attached image of Ed Forchion was previously provided by the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office