

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson is stepping down as head of a marijuana company in order to run for president.

Johnson announced his campaign for the 2016 presidential election on the Fox Business Network on Wednesday, who plans to run as a Libertarian candidate.

“I want to take this opportunity to announce my candidacy for president,” Johnson told Fox’s Neil Cavuto. “I am hoping to get the Libertarian nomination for president in 2016 and in fact offer that alternative.”

Johnson previously worked as CEO of Cannabis Sativa, a company who brands themselves as having the “ambition to brand and market the highest quality, legal cannabis products available today – and to innovate the industry-leading products of tomorrow.” Some now view him as the top presidential choice for cannabis advocates, although democratic runner Bernie Sanders is also against the federal laws against marijuana.

“I’ve been the highest public official since 1999 to advocate for the legalization of marijuana,” Johnson told the Daily Caller.

Despite those who endorse him for his cannabis advocacy, Johnson believes it won’t be enough to garner the amount of support needed to run a successful campaign.

“Let me just put it at zero,” Johnson told the Daily Caller. “When you go back four years ago when I was running for president on the Republican side, I made the statement that if everyone that smoked marijuana gave me a dollar, I’d have $150 million dollars in my coffer. None of that happened. It is a big zero when it comes to the ballot box. Is it the right thing to be advocating? Absolutely. But does it result in political benefits? I haven’t seen it.”