Democrat Gary Chambers, a Democrat candidate seeking to represent Louisiana in the U.S. Senate, has released a campaign ad this month that features him smoking a marijuana bunt.
In the ad, Chambers sits in an armchair in a field smoking a cannabis blunt and lists statistics about the harms of criminalization.
The ad is titled “37 Seconds,” a reference to a research finding that police in the U.S. make a marijuana-related arrest every 37 seconds on average.
“Black people are four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana laws than white people,” Chambers explains. “States waste $3.7 billion enforcing marijuana laws every year. Most of the people police are arresting aren’t dealers, but rather people with small amounts of pot, just like me.”
Louisiana has not legalized marijuana but possession of up to 14 grams was decriminalized last year and is now punishable by a $100 fine.
“For too long, candidates have used the legalization of marijuana as an empty talking point in order to appeal to progressive voters,” Chambers said in a press release. “I hope this ad works to not only destigmatize the use of marijuana, but also forces a new conversation that creates the pathway to legalize this beneficial drug, and forgive those who were arrested due to outdated ideology.”
The candidate tweeted, “I hope this ad works to not only destigmatize the use of marijuana, but also forces a new conversation that creates the pathway to legalize this beneficial drug, and forgive those who were arrested due to outdated ideology.”
