2016 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Drugs


John Hickenlooper: Regulatory regime to marijuana needs to be strengthened

Coloradans voted to legalize marijuana three years ago and we had to build a regulatory system from scratch. We should continue to look at lessons learned from alcohol and tobacco as we monitor and update marijuana regulations. Back in the day, candy cigarettes desensitized kids to the dangers of tobacco--and today, pot-infused gummy bears send the wrong message to our kids about marijuana.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Colorado legislature Jan 14, 2016

Earl Ray Tomblin: Prioritize combating substance abuse from many angles

We must continue to make the fight against substance abuse a top priority. In 2011, I established my Advisory Council on Substance Abuse to help us find more localized ways to combat this epidemic. Since then, we have updated our prescription drug monitoring program, cracked down on the sale of drugs used to make meth and put an end to doctor shopping. We have shut down pill mills for irresponsible prescription practices, and my administration is committed to continuing the fight against drug companies that oversupply pain medication without proper orders. Last year, we invested significant state funding to expand critical substance abuse treatment and recovery services. This September, we launched 844-HELP-4-W-V, the state's first 24-hour substance abuse help line.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to West Virginia legislature Jan 13, 2016

Earl Ray Tomblin: Behavioral therapies MUST accompany anti-addiction meds

Tonight, I'm introducing legislation to establish licensing requirements for medication-assisted treatment facilities. Research shows us that the use of Suboxone and Methadone alone does not support long-term recovery. This legislation requires counseling and behavioral therapies be used in conjunction with these medications to make sure those seeking treatment have the support they need to begin the recovery process.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to West Virginia legislature Jan 13, 2016

Chris Christie: Addiction is an illness and should be treated as such

Instead of prosecuting a failed war on drugs--a war on our own citizens--we've classified drug addiction as the illness it truly is, and worked to treat and rehabilitate some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Last year alone I signed ten new laws to address this issue, and today we're going to talk about the next steps we need to take to continue making progress.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to New Jersey legislature Jan 12, 2016

Chris Christie: Search for innovative ways to address drug epidemic

Since 2012 we've enacted more than a dozen laws to address the drug epidemic. In 2013 we brought in the drug court program to provide mandatory treatment to first-time, non-violent, non-dealing drug offenders. In 2014 we launched a statewide program to help reduce the number of heroin-related. Last July, we instituted a single point of entry for people to gain access to treatment. This year, I plan to ask to fund the Recovery Coach Program for an additional six counties in New Jersey.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to New Jersey legislature Jan 12, 2016

Mike Pence: Confront the growing epidemic of drug abuse

We must support new ways to confront the growing epidemic of drug abuse and addiction. Let's pass stiffer penalties on those who sell these poisons to our kids. But we cannot just arrest our way out of this problem. We have to make sure families have more options for treatments. Two new laws will help: Aaron's Law allows healthcare providers to make an antidote for opioid overdoses available, and The Jennifer Act allows Medicaid to cover inpatient detoxification.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Indiana legislature Jan 12, 2016

Doug Ducey: Ramp up border patrol to end drug importation

In September, we created the Border Strike Force Bureau, a partnership between local, state and federal law enforcement that's providing a force multiplier in the fight against drug cartels and border crime.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Arizona legislature Jan 11, 2016

Peter Shumlin: Time to make marijuana well-regulated legal substance

The War on Drugs has failed, and there is no greater example than our nation's marijuana laws. Vermont took steps to institute a well-regulated medical marijuana system that now serves 2,400 Vermonters. But the black market of drug dealers selling marijuana for recreational use is alive and well, that's why I will work with you to craft the right bill that eliminates the era of prohibition that is currently failing us. I will insist on 5 things before I'll sign a bill:
  1. A legal market must keep marijuana and other drugs out of the hands of underage kids.
  2. The tax imposed must be low enough to wipe out the black market and get rid of the illegal drug dealers.
  3. Revenue from legalization must be used to expand addiction prevention programs.
  4. We must strengthen law enforcement's capacity to respond to impaired drivers under the influence of Marijuana
  5. Take a hard lesson learned from other states and ban the sale of edibles until other states figure out how to do it right.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Vermont legislature Jan 7, 2016

Peter Shumlin: Prioritize reducing opioid misuse

Let's put an end to the system where doctors, dentists, and health care providers send patients home with 80 or 90 Oxycontin pills in their pocket. I am proposing a new system, where a maximum of 10 pills will be the limit for minor procedures. Second, we are partnering with pharmacies to expand drug take back programs. Third, we are partnering with neighboring states to upgrade the Prescription Monitoring System to prevent addicts from crossing state borders to go pill shopping.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Vermont legislature Jan 7, 2016

  • The above quotations are from 2016 Governor's State of the State speeches.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Drugs.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Chris Christie on Drugs.
  • Click here for more quotes by Terry McAuliffe 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 09, 2018