Former Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mayor is Now Working in Cannabis Industry

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]F[/dropcap]ormer two-term Philadelphia, Pennsylvania mayor Michael Nutter made history by transitioning from a political career to a medical cannabis endeavor. 

According to NJ.com, this is controversial for some, as Nutter once criticized a plan to decriminalize small amounts of cannabis. However, he did finally sign a decriminalization measure into city law in 2014 after months of facing pressure to do something about the inner-city war on drugs. 

Now, the politician-turned-entrepreneur has become the official community relations and outreach person for Green Leaf Medical in New Jersey. The company is planning to open a cultivation, exportation and dispensary operation in the state. Nutter claims this is not hypocritical, as he has always been a cannabis supporter. 

“I was not opposed to decriminalizing marijuana,” Nutter told NJ Advance Media. “The issue I was raising was, I wanted us to do more than decriminalizing marijuana. This is medical cannabis, something that is obviously prescribed, and it is legally allowed in New Jersey.”

“One of the reasons I got into politics was to help people,” he added. “This is just a different way of being involved.”

Green Leaf, based in Maryland, is actively trying to build their brand by expanding into other states. CEO Phil Goldberg stands by his decision to hire Nutter. 

“We didn’t just bring him on for the star power,” Goldberg said Thursday. “If you look at his track record, it’s very impressive. He has done some amazing things. His heart is in the right place. If he only had star power, we wouldn’t have asked him to join the team.”

 Whether people are skeptical of this new appointment or not, it seems that things are changing on the northeast corridor. Pennsylvania introduced a bill to fully legal cannabis, and New Jersey is taking advantage of old buildings to make way for a new, budding cannabis industry. Soon, a political leader joining the cannabis industry may be the norm.