2018 CA Governor's race: on Drugs
John Cox:
Denied wanting to hospitalize marijuana addicts
Cox is taking issue with a story headlined, "California governor candidate says pot addicts should be hospitalized, not incarcerated." Cox told KPBS that he was talking about heroin and opioid addicts, not cannabis users. At the forum,
Cox said, "I'd like to go to the Portugal system where they actually put people who use marijuana in hospitals and cure them of their substance abuse. I'm not interested in jailing recreational marijuana users, and I'm certainly for medical marijuana."
Source: San Diego Tribune on 2018 California gubernatorial debate
May 4, 2018
John Chiang:
Set up state bank for pot industry
California expects to bring in $1 billion in annual tax revenues from the cannabis industry starting next year, when retailers can begin adult-use sales. The problem is how to handle all that cash. California Treasurer John Chiang announced
a series of proposed strategies to help the newly legitimized recreational and medical cannabis industry--still largely barred from using banks because of federal laws making cannabis illegal--manage large amounts of money and pay taxes.
Source: The Press Democrat on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Nov 7, 2017
Antonio Villaraigosa:
Supports marijuana legalization
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Monday became the latest high-profile politician to endorse an initiative that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in California. "I took my time on this measure because
I wanted to make sure it included protections for children and public safety, in evaluating the measure in its entirety," Villaraigosa said in a statement.
Source: Los Angeles Times on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Oct 31, 2017
Delaine Eastin:
Supports legalization, but would tax more
We tried making marijuana illegal, and that hasn't worked so well. I just don't think it makes sense for us to be thuggish about something that is not intrinsically evil. I think the initiative could have been written more strongly.
I probably would have taxed the product more, I would have put the money into mental health programs and done something that moved the needle on some of the problems that can come out of either alcoholism or drug addiction.
Source: Ukiah Daily Journal on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Sep 5, 2017
Gavin Newsom:
Let California legalization continue
Newsom sent a letter to President Trump urging him not to carry through with threats to launch a federal enforcement effort against recreational marijuana firms that will be legalized in California. Newsom's letter attempts to persuade
the president that a regulated market for adult-use marijuana is preferable to what has existed in the past. "The war on marijuana has failed," Newsom wrote. "It did not, and will not, keep marijuana out of kids' hands."
Source: Los Angeles Times on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Jul 24, 2017
Steve Farley:
Making marijuana business legitimate
Chiang formed the Cannabis Banking Working Group to explore options for banking and regulating an industry that could produce more than $6 billion in sales by 2020. Chiang said the lack of banking options have made paying taxes, paying vendors and
employees, and granting benefits, such as health insurance, more difficult. Businesses have dealt in cash, an invitation for violent crimes. Chiang said business owners shouldn't have to decide between their safety and profit.
Source: Voice of San Diego on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Jul 14, 2017
Travis Allen:
Opposed pot law barring state cooperation with Feds
"This is insanity," Allen told his colleagues. "This is a complete violation of federal law. The hubris of California Democrats believing they can flout federal law on immigration and drug policy is beyond words."
He said local law enforcement would be put in "harm's way" if there was no cooperation with federal drug enforcement officers.
Source: Los Angeles Times on 2018 California governor race
Jun 1, 2017
Gavin Newsom:
Pushed Proposition 64, legalizing adult use of marijuana
This past November, Newsom proved he's a serious force to reckon with when it comes to passing groundbreaking legislation. Having started California's Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy in 2014, he campaigned for five months and got
Proposition 64, legalizing adult use of marijuana in the state, passed, with 56 percent of voters in favor. Now, he's the telegenic face of a movement. "I'm happy to be associated with this change. I'm sick and tired of politics and politicians as
usual," says Newsom today. "I'll be kicked out before I rust out. You can love me or hate me and disagree with me, but you sure as hell know where I stand.""Gavin boldly stands up for social issues with unwavering commitment while relentlessly
championing people who can't speak for themselves," says a longtime friend. "This issue is one of many that Gavin thinks of in a big picture way. He's an outlier and a great leader."
Source: Billboard.com on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Jan 19, 2017
Gavin Newsom:
I'm not pro-pot, but anti-prohibition; opposed 2010 Prop 19
Newsom grew up with a father who was "considered an activist judge in his day, particularly as it relates to drug policy. He was a very outspoken critic of the war on drugs," recalls Newsom. Despite his progressive record, Newsom wasn't immediately
pro-legalization. "I've never tried cannabis. I don't have the basis to appreciate it," he says. "I always ask for forgiveness because I really only intellectually know what I'm talking about." He emphasizes that he's "not pro-pot, but
anti-prohibition," and he didn't support the previous attempt to legalize recreational marijuana in California, Proposition 19 in 2010. "I just didn't feel it was appropriately drafted," he says. "There were glaring loopholes."
Still, "the spirit of it was profound and important," and Newsom decided to start his Blue Ribbon Commission as a key first step toward a more coherent approach to legalization. That led directly to the Prop 64 campaign.
Source: Billboard.com on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Jan 19, 2017
Antonio Villaraigosa:
Pro-legalization with safeguards
Villaraigosa became the latest high-profile politician to endorse an initiative that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in California. "I took my time on this measure because I wanted to make sure it included protections for
children and public safety," Villaraigosa said in a statement. "In evaluating the measure in its entirety, I am convinced there are enough safeguards to make it a workable proposition."
Source: Los Angeles Times on 2018 California gubernatorial race
Oct 31, 2016
Page last updated: Oct 31, 2021
Beshear(D)
vs.