'Weedman' says closing pot temple violates religious freedom

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — After battling the legal system on two coasts and spending time in and out of prison, New Jersey's loudest champion of marijuana went legit last year when he opened up a restaurant across from city hall in this state's capital city.

Ed Forchion, better known as NJ Weedman, said Wednesday that Trenton police infringed on his religious rights after shutting down the cannabis temple attached to his restaurant for operating too late at night last weekend.

Police cleared out his "cannabis church" early Saturday because of a city ordinance that limits a business's hours.

[...] he's been on a long crusade in the courts, claiming that marijuana laws infringe upon his Rastafarian religion and unfairly discriminate against black people.

Forchion filed a petition this week with the U.S. Supreme Court to challenge his 2010 conviction for marijuana possession.

Trenton police Lt. Stephen Varn said that "numerous citizen complaints in the area, including shots fired" prompted officers to clear out the temple.