2016 DE Governor's race: on Drugs


Colin Bonini: Decriminalizing marijuana sends young people wrong message

Gov. Jack Markell signed legislation decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana in Delaware. Markell signed the bill privately shortly after it passed the Democrat-controlled Senate on a straight party-line vote. "The governor remains committed to reducing the number of people entering the criminal justice system and refocusing resources where they are needed most," a Markell spokeswoman said.

Opponents expressed concerns that the legislation sends the wrong message to children, `and that it will lead to greater acceptance and use of illegal drugs while hampering the abilities of police to conduct searches and seizures. "This is a bill we're going to regret," said Sen. Colin Bonini, R-Dover. "The message we're sending young people is one we simply should not send."

The legislation makes possession by an adult of a "personal use" quantity of marijuana, defined as an ounce or less, a civil offense punishable by a fine of $100, rather than a crime.

Source: Washington Post on 2016 Delaware gubernatorial race Jun 18, 2015

Jack Markell: Decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana

Gov. Jack Markell signed legislation decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana in Delaware. Markell signed the bill privately shortly after it passed the Democrat-controlled Senate on a straight party-line vote. "The governor remains committed to reducing the number of people entering the criminal justice system and refocusing resources where they are needed most," a Markell spokeswoman said.

Opponents expressed concerns that the legislation sends the wrong message to children, `and that it will lead to greater acceptance and use of illegal drugs while hampering the abilities of police to conduct searches and seizures. "This is a bill we're going to regret," said Sen. Colin Bonini, R-Dover. "The message we're sending young people is one we simply should not send."

The legislation makes possession by an adult of a "personal use" quantity of marijuana, defined as an ounce or less, a civil offense punishable by a fine of $100, rather than a crime.

Source: Washington Post on 2016 Delaware gubernatorial race Jun 18, 2015

  • The above quotations are from 2016 Delaware Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Drugs.
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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 08, 2018