A Democrat running for Congress in Illinois' fifth congressional district showcased his support for marijuana legalization by smoking pot in a new campaign ad.
Benjamin Thomas Wolf, a former FBI official turned Chicago restaurant owner, told the Chicago Sun-Times that it is important to be upfront about recreational cannabis use and the potential economic and social benefits of legalization.
"As a cannabis user, I think it's important we get out front and talk about it," said Wolf, who is vying to defeat incumbent Rep. Mike Quigley (D., Ill.) in this year's Democratic primary. "We realize that cannabis can bring billions of dollars to the state, it's medicine for millions of people around the country, it changes criminal justice reform, and, personally, I think it's a wonderful recreational substance as well."
Wolf released a photograph on Monday that features him sitting in front of an American flag painting with a smoldering joint in hand.
Wolf moved to Chicago five years ago after stints living in Washington, D.C., and overseas while serving in the State Department. He now owns a restaurant called Park and Field in Chicago's Logan Square neighbor.
Wolf says that his marijuana admission can only help him with voters in the district, where the average age is 33. Of the two other Democrats challenging Quigley for the Democratic nomination, Wolf is the only one to come out in favor of marijuana legalization.
This is not the first time that Wolf has injected controversy into his campaign ads. After the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, earlier this month, Wolf released a campaign video of himself with an AR-15 rifle. In the video, Wolf explains the function of an AR-15 and says that it is the "same weapon he carried in Iraq." Wolf used the video to declare his support for a full "assault weapons" ban and stronger background checks.
The Democratic primary is scheduled for March 20.
Wolf's video with an AR-15 is below: