Backed by "Pothead Second Lady" Gisele, John Fetterman Wins Pennsylvania Primary for US Senate

John and Gisele Fetterman

Pennsylvania's pro-pot Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman has won the Democratic primary for a Senate seat by a resounding 59% of the vote against Conor Lamb, whose endorsements vastly outnumbered Fetterman's, and Malcolm Kenyatta, who did well with voters in Philadelphia.

Standing tall at 6-foot-8-inches, Fetterman jumped into the limelight as the forward-thinking mayor of Braddock, PA, a town once so grimy that when my father—who worked as an engineer for US Steel—did a plant visit there he would change his shirt the moment he hit the door to our home. 

Fetterman has flown a flag displaying cannabis leaves from the lieutenant governor’s office, alongside a rainbow-colored L.G.B.T.Q. banner. In 2019, he embarked on an adult-use cannabis listening tour in all 67 PA counties. In three months, the tour saw over 10,000 people turn out in person, mostly in favor of legalization. 

“John’s overwhelming victory in the primary should send a message to candidates of all political persuasions across the country. Legalization has the support of 7 in 10 Americans, including majorities of all political affiliations,” commented NORML PAC Executive Director Erik Altieri. "His victory sent a clear signal to the establishment: get on the right side of history or lose to someone with the courage of their convictions. ” 

Gisele in a NORML T-shirt,
with her son August. 

Fetterman's wife Gisele is a Brazilian beauty born in Rio de Janeiro who emigrated with her family as an undocumented immigrant at the age of 10 to escape violent crime in her community. A chronic pain sufferer due to a series of accidents, she has been a vocal medicinal marijuana patient who spoke about her journey with Montel Williams. 

Gisele wrote a fundraising pitch asking for $5 contributions on 4/19/22 with the headline "The 'Pothead Second Lady'" (something she is often called) saying: "John and I are deeply dedicated to the fight for full cannabis legalization. Legal cannabis has changed my life, and I know it can help so many others too. I hope my story of being helped by the plant can help other people understand it rather than fear it...In 2016, Pennsylvania legalized marijuana for medical use. I was one of the first people in line when the first dispensary opened. Today, legal cannabis is the medicine that keeps me pain-free."

Gisele with Jeff Riedy of Lehigh
Valley NORML at the 2021 PA
Cannabis Festival in Kutztown. 

She continued, "Cannabis should be legal, safe, and pure for medicinal and recreational use by adults in Pennsylvania and everywhere in the U.S. Legal cannabis will create tens of thousands of new jobs. It will help farmers, veterans, and people suffering from chronic pain. It will help us expunge all the senseless marijuana convictions. And it will be a big step forward toward racial justice." She finished with, "Also, let the people grow." (Medical marijuana patients still cannot grow their own medicine legally in Pennsylvania.) 

A post-victory NY Times oped titled, "Is John Fetterman the Future of the Democratic Party?" harkened to his "signature" issue of "legal weed." Indeed, you can buy this shirt on his site to support his Senate campaign (see Gisele wearing it at right).

Fetterman will attempt to flip PA's Senate Seat blue, facing either the Trump-endorsed Dr. Mehmet Oz or David McCormick—a hedge fund executive who worked in the G.W. Bush administration—in the November election. 

UPDATE:  Dr. Oz Doubles Down on His Opposition to Legalizing Marijuana