As if we needed more reason to see that the world and its view on cannabis are changing, meet Gary Chambers. Chambers is an advocate in Baton Rouge. He’s a former 2nd Congressional District candidate. Recently, Chambers released the first ad in his campaign for a Louisiana seat in the Senate. In that video, Chambers smokes a blunt.
That goes a long way from former President Bill Clinton begrudgingly admitting he smoked weed but didn’t inhale.
Chambers’ “37 Seconds” has the candidate enjoying a well-rolled blunt while talking about the statistics on weed-related arrests and the costs linked to enforcing the alleged war on drugs.
The ad, directed and edited by local filmmaker Erwin Marionneaux, was shot in New Orleans. That city’s council set up an ordinance with a goal that eliminates all the penalties for simple possession of weed. It retroactively erases cases initiated since 2010. That’s 10,000!
The New Orleans Police Department officially declared it would stop issuing citations.
Of course, that decision didn’t go smoothly. New Orleans’ city council passed an ordinance unanimously that should’ve removed any penalty surrounding simple possession. Offenders were essentially offered “prospective pardons.” That meant there would be no fine or even a court appearance.
The new law should’ve gone into effect in September 2021. Yet, the police continued issuing citations. Dozens of simple possessions kept showing up in municipal court. In turn, the court, adhering to the “pardon” ruling, sent people home with no penalty.
Councilwoman Helena Moreno, who sponsored the simple possession pardon ordinance, admonishes the hypocrisy.
“Why would you take the time to write the ticket if you know it’s already going to be pardoned? There’s really no necessity for enforcement, in my opinion, anymore.”
In his campaign ad, Chambers says, “For too long, candidates have used the legalization of marijuana as an empty talking point in order to appeal to progressive voters. 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new conversation that creates the pathway to legalize this beneficial drug, and forgive those who were arrested due to outdated ideology.”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 is a proponent for the Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing Expungement Act. The bipartisan action is federally sponsored and funded. It gives the Attorney General authority to provide grants to the States and bodies of local government to minimize the administrative and financial burden of expunging cannabis convictions.
Chambers is also a strong supporter of legislation like the Secure and Fair Enforcement Act. The Act wants to expand the marijuana industry’s opportunity to access financial institutions for funding.
In his ad, Chambers explains the title of his video. “Every 37 seconds, someone is arrested for possession of marijuana.”
The 36-year-old politician seeks to upset Republican Senator John Kennedy. Kennedy’s in the 2022 race hoping to win a second term. Former fighter pilot Luke Mixon is also running on the Democratic ticket.
Erick Sanchez wrote and produced “37 Seconds.” Sanchez is a New Orleans local and founder of United Public Affairs. You can check out Chambers’ campaign ad here.
