Gravel will be the new CEO at Nevada-based KUSH, a subsidiary of Cannabis Sativa, Inc. He says he hopes to “direct the company to get products in states that will legally allow it.”
Alaska is one of 24 states that have declared medical use of cannabis to be legal. Three other states, including Colorado, Washington and Oregon allow marijuana for recreational use.
While it’s not the first time a politician has headed the KUSH Company, Gravel has taken a strong stance on helping to pursue marijuana legalization as part of his position on the war on drugs. During his campaign bid for the 2008 presidency, Gravel noted that he didn’t understand why it was such a disputed issue.
“It’s so controversial because there’s a lot of stupid people locked into stupid policies,” Gravel told Politico in 2007. “There are a lot of people on drugs all the time — what’s the big deal about it?”
Cannabis Sativa, which is run by former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, produces natural cannabis products. The company aims to market legal cannabis products to the “fullest extent permitted by law.”
“While we honor the double-entendres and Cheech and Chong-style puns that got us here, our marketing will nonetheless forsake the black and green, pot-leaf dominated art common to the genre in favor of something designed to appeal to the masses,” Johnson said in a statement.
Johnson ran again for the presidency in 2012 on a libertarian ticket, and told Reddit during an interview last April that he would like to run again in 2016. Gravel has been clear that he’s not done with politics just yet, despite his new role.
He plans to market other marijuana products like the cannabis lozenge known as “Kubby.” KUSH’s parent company will further support the company in the research, development, patenting and licensing of specialized natural cannabis products, from formulas to recipes.
