Who Is Thomas McDermott Jr? Senate Candidate Smokes Weed In 4/20 Video
In a campaign video released on Wednesday, Indiana Democratic Senate candidate Thomas McDermott Jr. is seen smoking marijuana in an effort to push for legalization in the state.
McDermott's campaign video comes on April 20, otherwise known as “4/20,” a day that celebrates cannabis. The video, which lasts one minute and 46 seconds, shows McDermott passing a joint.
"Here's the bottom line. We need to legalize marijuana on the federal level. We need to also legalize cannabis in Indiana, as well, so Hoosiers can get the health and economic benefits of cannabis,” McDermott said in the video.
McDermott, 53, is an attorney and mayor of Hammond, a suburb of Chicago with a population of about 78,000. He has been mayor since January 2004.
McDermott was born in Utah and split time in youth between Northern California and Indiana. He spent six years in the navy and earned a degree in finance from Purdue University Northwest and later earned a law degree from Notre Dame. He is married with four children.
In November, McDermott said he smoked marijuana at two recent Grateful Dead concerts in Chicago.
In the campaign video, McDermott notes how he and the group are at "an Illinois backyard, one mile from the Indiana state line." Illinois was the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana.
McDermott said that not most political figures would not admit to smoking marijuana. “Even on #420day not many Senate candidates admit to having smoked weed. I’m not most Senate candidates."
“I’ve been thinking a lot about whether to launch this video where I light up. It’s an issue that’s personal and important to me and so many,” McDermott said.
The video was released on the same day that Indiana’s Democratic party is introducing a tour that will encourage the legalization of marijuana in the state.
Indiana is currently one of the 13 states that does not allow medicinal or recreational use of marijuana.
McDermott faces Republican Sen. Todd Young on Nov. 8.
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