Gary Chambers is running for the U.S. Senate in Louisiana and he has recently released his first campaign ad on Tuesday with a video showing him smoking a cannabis blunt. Chambers has decided to run on a pro-marijuana legalization platform. The ad, entitled ‘37 Seconds,’ features a voice-over of him talking about the statistics for non-violent drug convictions.
“Every 37 seconds someone is arrested for possession of marijuana,” the 36-year-old community activist in Baton Rouge said in the video.
“States waste $3.7 billion enforcing marijuana laws every year,” Chambers says in the ad. “Most of the people police are arresting aren’t dealers but rather people with small amounts of pot, just like me.”
Baton Rouge filmmaker Erwin Marionneaux directed and edited the ad and was filmed in New Orleans with a local resident Erick Sanchez, United Public Affairs founder, who wrote and produced the pot-smoking ad. Chambers posted the video on Twitter and explained why he smoked weed on camera.
“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 statement. “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new conversation that creates the pathway to legalize this beneficial drug, and forgive those who were arrested due to outdated ideology.”
Chambers’ ad releases after the New Orleans City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting police from arresting and citing people for small amounts of marijuana.
“Why would you take the time to write the ticket if you know it’s already going to be pardoned?” Councilwoman Helena Moreno said. “There’s really no necessity for enforcement, in my opinion, anymore.”
A spokesperson for New Orleans Police Department said in a statement that officers will “no longer issue citations for simple possession alone.”
“NOPD has revised our policy covering procedures related to simple possession of marijuana, and new general order will go into effect Sunday to comply with a new municipal ordinance,” NOPD spokesperson Gary Scheets said, in an email, according to The Lens. On Nov. 8, Chambers will go against other Democratic candidates in the non-partisan primary. GOP Sen. John Kennedy was first elected to the seat in 2016 and is running for reelection, according to KLAF. The general election will take place on Dec. 10.
