Legal Marijuana Now candidate for 2nd congressional district dies, potentially triggering special election

Adam Weeks, who was running for Congress in Minnesota’s 2nd District as the Legal Marijuna Now Party candidate, has died, a party official told the Reformer.

Dennis Schuller, Legal Marijuana Now Party treasurer, confirmed Weeks’s death and said a statement from the family would be coming soon. He said Weeks was “passionate in his pursuit and we’ll miss him.”

A cause of death was not immediately reported.

It’s unclear how Weeks’ death will affect the upcoming election. The secretary of state’s office, which oversees elections, did not immediately return messages Thursday.

Under Minnesota law, a major political party like Legal Marijuana Now could nominate a new candidate and a special election would be triggered

“In the case of a vacancy in nomination for a partisan office that occurs after the 79th day before the general election, the general election ballot shall remain unchanged, but the county and state canvassing boards must not certify the vote totals for that office from the general election, and the office must be filled at a special election,” according to state statute.

Weeks is a farmer in Goodhue County, according to his biography posted on his campaign website. He also has expressed his support for the Black Lives Matter movement, saying on his campaign platform that “you need to strongly consider that the drug war is the weapon that police use most often to harass minorities.”

In a statement, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, reacted to the news.

“I was deeply saddened to hear the tragic news of Adam Weeks’ passing earlier this week,” Craig said. “Cheryl and I are praying for the Weeks family during this difficult time.”

Tyler Kistner, the GOP-endorsed candidate seeking to unseat Craig, also expressed condolences in a statement.

“I am saddened to hear that Adam Weeks has passed away,” Kistner said. Adam was a passionate advocate for the causes he believed in, and he will he missed by all those who knew him. We will be praying for Adam and his family and friends as they go through this difficult time.