TRENTON — Perennial pro-marijuana candidate Ed "NJ Weedman" Forchion, who was knocked off the November ballot, will file an appeal on Monday to reverse Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno's final decision that his election petitions were invalid.

Forchion represents the Legalize Marijuana Party and had filed to run for the open Third Congressional District seat. He has stated Democrats are afraid his candidacy will draw votes away from them in the general election.

After an administrative law hearing left him one shy of the required 100 signatures, he filed suit against Guadagno, Democratic candidate Aimee Belgard and the state Democratic Committee, which initially challenged his candidacy.

Forchion brought his case Thursday before Superior Court Assignment Judge Mary Jacobson, arguing that the challenge was filed too late and improperly, but the judge transferred the case to the Appellate Division.

In his appeal, Forchion asks that he would not have to produce the transcripts from the previous hearings and that the case be heard in a timely manner.

The Third Congressional District covers Burlington and Ocean counties.

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