Fetterman’s not-so-secret weapon: Weed legalization

The issue isn’t top of mind for most voters, but the Democratic frontrunner is betting that it could help draw people to the polls.

LANCASTER, Pa. — Few Senate candidates sell campaign T-shirts emblazoned with marijuana leaves.

But head over to Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman’s website, or drop by one of his rallies, and that’s what you’ll find.

“It’s high time that we get our sh*t together and legalize weed in PA + USA. More justice, jobs, revenue, and freedom,” the top-selling T-shirt’s description reads.

Fetterman is arguably the nation’s most outspoken pro-weed politician. He supported legalization as mayor of Braddock, Pa., and during his unsuccessful 2016 Senate campaign. In 2019, as the state’s second-in-command, he held a statewide listening tour on recreational cannabis legalization.

Now, with a wide polling lead on opponents in the Democratic primary — despite suffering a stroke on Friday that has knocked him off the campaign trail in the closing days before Tuesday’s election — he’s promising to push the issue on the national level if elected to the Senate.

Political strategists say a bold position on cannabis could be an important piece of a winning policy portfolio for both the primary and general elections in a race that will help determine control of the Senate. Progressives respond well to it — but even more than that, marijuana may do something very important in a state where election margins are razor thin: bring new voters to the polls. [Read More @ Politico]