2014 Maine Governor's race: on Drugs


Eliot Cutler: Legal pot makes drugs seem ok, but prohibition isn't working

[After Portland voted to legalize marijuana possession up to 2.5 ounces], a spokeswoman for Democrat Mike Michaud said, "He is concerned that such efforts could make the drug more accessible to children and teens." Eliot Cutler, the independent in the race, said he had similar concerns that legalizing marijuana for adults would also expand access to the drug for children and adolescents. "I think my biggest concern with legalizing marijuana is that it could send a message to our kids that drug use is OK," Cutler said. Still, Cutler said he believed the current prohibition on marijuana wasn't working. "It has permitted the development of a thriving, unregulated and untaxed black market in nonmedicinal marijuana that is easily accessed by children and adolescents, as well as adults," Cutler said.

Meanwhile, Republican Gov. Paul LePage demurred on the questions.

Source: Bangor Daily News on 2014 Maine governor race Sep 3, 2014

Mike Michaud: Legal pot makes drug more accessible to children and teens

The leading candidates for governor in Maine danced around the subject of whether the state should follow the city of Portland's lead and legalize recreational marijuana statewide. Portland voters overwhelmingly approved a city ordinance that makes possession of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use legal. The change, however, may be largely symbolic as both state and federal laws making possession illegal would supersede the ordinance, according to law enforcement.

A spokeswoman for the Democrat in the gubernatorial race, U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, said he would want to see more details of any bill that would legalize or further decriminalize marijuana in Maine. "But he is concerned that such efforts could make the drug more accessible to children and teens," Michaud's campaign spokeswoman said. "The congressman is willing to sit down to discuss the issue with advocates for the law change and with representatives from the public health and law enforcement communities."

Source: Bangor Daily News on 2014 Maine governor race Sep 3, 2014

Paul LePage: Upholding the law includes illegal marijuana

The leading candidates for governor in Maine danced around the subject of whether the state should follow the city of Portland's lead and legalize recreational marijuana statewide. Portland voters overwhelmingly approved a city ordinance that makes possession of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use legal.

A spokeswoman for Democrat Mike Michaud said "he is concerned that such efforts could make the drug more accessible to children and teens." Eliot Cutler, the independent in the race, said he had similar concerns, but that he believed the current prohibition on marijuana wasn't working.

Meanwhile, Republican Gov. Paul LePage demurred on the questions. His campaign staff referred the issue to the governor's communications staff in Augusta. "Gov. LePage has taken an oath to defend and uphold the Constitution and observe the laws of the state of Maine and he intends to do just that," LePage's press secretary wrote.

Source: Bangor Daily News on 2014 Maine governor race Sep 3, 2014

  • The above quotations are from 2014 Maine Gubernatorial debates and race coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Drugs.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Paul LePage on Drugs.
  • Click here for more quotes by Mike Michaud on Drugs.
Candidates and political leaders on Drugs:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 06, 2018