NJ Weedman: Cannabis Church Closure is Religious Discrimination

By Elisa Meyer --
17 Mar 2016 --

Trenton, NJ police shut down Cannabis Church.

Trenton police closed down a “Cannabis Church” last weekend after reports emerged that it has been operating at odd hours. The church is attached to a restaurant owned by Ed Forchion who is popularly known as “NJ Weedman.” During its closure, the “Weedman” expressed his frustrations by the police actions claiming that they have infringed on his religious rights.

NJ Weedman: Cannabis Church Closure is Religious Discrimination[/tweetthis]

He filed an injunction in the court of law to have his church opened after 11 p.m. claiming that it is the best time for most of his followers to assemble and some smoke marijuana. The Trenton police shut down the “Cannabis Church” in order to comply with the city ordinance rule which limits the hours of business operation.

Forchion said that his temple qualifies to be a “midnight class.” He narrated about his early life and how he grew up in the Baptist Church, and he experienced a lot of midnight revivals. He said that his “Cannabis Church” should enjoy similar rights as the Shiloh Baptist Church. “I grew up in the Baptist church and have been to plenty of midnight services and midnight revivals. I should have the same rights as the Shiloh Baptist Church.”

He has expressed his interest in vying for a political seat in order to fight for marijuana legalization and discrimination against Rastafarians.

Numerous people in the city have raised a lot of complaints about the “Cannabis Church.” It has been linked to frequent gunshots and violence in the city forcing the police to shut down the temple despite Forchion’s attempt to deny the allegations.

Good story from @Ben_Finley on how NJ Weeman's cannabis church getting shut down. https://t.co/rTTOYNK92V
— Michael Catalini (@mikecatalini) March 10, 2016

Trenton police are, however, investigating the registration details of the temple. There is a high need to find out whether the temple is registered as a church or business. Research indicated that the temple has been registered as a for-profit entity according to the records released by the New Jersey Division of Taxation.

NJ Weedman has moved to court and filed a petition to Supreme Court to challenge the closure claiming that it is a needed distraction. “It’s a long shot, but long shots do come in,” said Forchion’s attorney John Vincent Saykanic. He has also claimed that the “Cannabis Church” is not a for-profit entity and said that the “Cannabis Church” was formed as a subsidiary of his California temple.

On Sunday, Forchion penned an article for the Trentonian asking “Do we have Freedom of Religion or Freedom of Religion acceptable to the Police?”