It’s not every day you see a Senate candidate smoking marijuana in the public eye, but Gary Chambers Jr. of Louisiana is approving a different message—and he’s doing so with his debut campaign ad. 

In his first commercial, Chambers is seen sitting in a chair, puffing on a sparked marijuana blunt as he cites the racial disparities between Black and white Americans. 

RELATED: House votes to decriminalize marijuana at federal level 

Chambers joined The World Tonight host Kelly Wright to discuss his platform and his bold choice for a campaign ad. 

“The numbers are glaring, and when you at look at where we are as a country, where we are a state, we need equitable policies around criminal justice reform,” Chambers said. “In a state that ranks 50 in crime and 49 in the economy, we need to make sure that we build an equitable playing field for everyone to play on.” 

While Louisiana just decriminalized recreational cannabis to some extent, Chambers points out that it is still up to the discretion of the individual sheriff’s offices. He went on to say that states in the South, such as Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, need to work harder to embrace marijuana legislation similar to those in California, Colorado, Illinois and Virginia. 

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed House Bill 652 into law in June 2021, which eliminates the penalties for small-scale marijuana possession. While possession of 14 grams or less is not decriminalized, individuals convicted will face a fine rather than prison time. 

CNN reported a new state law went into effect earlier this month that expands the use of medical marijuana. 

RELATED: Black Pastors Have Faith in Medical Marijuana Treatment 

Chambers said on The World Tonight that police officers should devote more effort to serious crimes such as burglaries, killings and carjackings, rather than pursuing marijuana users. 

In addition to boosting awareness of the racial inequities surrounding marijuana use, Chambers has taken a tough stance in his push for voting rights legislation. He is also in support of economic aid and Medicare for all. 

The American Civil Liberties Union highlights in their report “A Tale of Two Countries: Racially Targeted Arrests in the Era of Marijuana Reform” that in every state, Black people were far more likely than white people to be arrested for marijuana possession.  

Despite the fact that Black and white people consume marijuana at similar rates, a Black person is nearly four times more likely to be arrested. In Louisiana, Black people were 3.4 times more likely. 

RELATED: More Than 50K Marijuana Convictions To Be Dismissed in LA County 

According to Chambers’ advertisement, states “waste” $3.7 billion each year enforcing marijuana prohibitions, with the majority of arrests involving people with small amounts. 

The Democrat and social justice activist is challenging Senator John Kennedy, who has held the seat since 2017.