August 27, 2019
Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang Rolls Out Cannabis-Themed Merch
A baseball cap celebrating math and marijuana has already sold out.
We’ve come a long way from Bill Clinton not inhaling.
Instead of presidential hopefuls shying away from marijuana, one Democratic candidate in 2019 is embracing Mary Jane. Entrepreneur Andrew Yang’s campaign has recently unveiled a line of cannabis-themed merchandise. The limited edition products blend Yang's love of mathematics with his support for cannabis reform. A $30 T-shirt is emblazoned with "Math. Money. Marijuana." An already-sold-out baseball cap says "Math" on the front and displays a cannabis leaf on the back. There's also a bumper sticker that says "Legalize Marijuana."
Our limited edition marijuana merch is now in stock! Check it out: https://t.co/7N4g1yQb9k pic.twitter.com/cHwlfMlHeQ
— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) August 24, 2019
Yang, who says he has never personally consumed cannabis, has often discussed his support for cannabis legalization and broader drug policy reform on the campaign trail. In April, he said he would pardon all non-violent drug offenders on 4/20, the unofficial marijuana holiday, Forbes reported. However, he later clarified that he would only grant mass clemency to people convicted of cannabis crimes rather than anyone incarcerated for a non-violent drug offense.
Last week, the candidate sent a fundraising email to his list pledging, "On my first day as President, I will pardon every person imprisoned for a low-level, non-violent marijuana offense and I would high five them on their way out of jail."
Marijuana convictions make up a very small percentage of the federal prison population, but that’s still ~ a few thousand high fives
— Daniel Newhauser (@dnewhauser) August 23, 2019
Hopefully there won’t be any signing ceremonies on day two. Raw palms! pic.twitter.com/FUNSobJYa1
The world-renowned businessman understands the potential of the cannabis market, which is increasingly ripe with opportunity for promo firms. Since 2012, 11 states have legalized marijuana for recreational use and since 1996, 33 states have legalized medical marijuana. As widespread acceptance has increased, so has the amount of consumers. Legal marijuana sales in North America were predicted to hit $9.7 billion in 2017, representing an unprecedented 33% rise over 2016, according to cannabis industry analyst Arcview Market Research. State tax revenue from cannabis retail sales are predicted to total $2.3 billion in 2020, research agency New Frontier Data reports. The industry is expected to reach $24.5 billion in sales by 2021 as more states follow suit and existing markets mature.