2018 MD Governor's race: on Drugs


Ian Schlakman: Marijuana isn't a gateway drug

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Marijuana is a gateway drug"?

A: Strongly oppose

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Maryland Governor candidate Aug 21, 2018

Ben Jealous: Recognizes the suffering caused from the opioid epidemic

Our state is in crisis. Communities across Maryland, from Baltimore to Oakland to Ocean City, La Plata, Elkton, Rockville, and everywhere in between are suffering from the scourge of addiction to heroin and other opioids.
Source: 2018 Maryland Gubernatorial campaign website, BenJealous.com Jun 26, 2018

Richard Madaleno: Allow petitioning for expunging marijuana arrest record

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Maryland Governor candidate Jun 1, 2018

Shawn Quinn: Marijuana isn't a gateway drug

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Marijuana is a gateway drug"?

A: Strongly oppose

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Maryland Governor candidate May 13, 2018

Richard Madaleno: Opioid epidemic is health issue, not criminal one

We have a prescription opioid and heroin crisis in our state--a public health crisis that we ineffectively treat as a law enforcement issue. Entire communities across our state are being hollowed out. There are economic and social issues feeding this epidemic that we must address, but before and above all else, we must ensure that those in the grips of addiction get the help they need, and that their families and communities are supported.
Source: 2018 Maryland Gubernatorial website MadalenoForMaryland.com Aug 8, 2017

Alec Ross: Let's see response to medical marijuana

Ross wants to see the impact of the sale of medical marijuana before pushing further decriminalization. "If what we see is that by decriminalizing marijuana and/or by medicalizing it, violence has gone down significantly, absolutely we should move in that direction," Ross said.
Source: WBAL-TV on 2018 Maryland gubernatorial race Jun 20, 2017

Richard Madaleno: Co-sponsored marijuana legalization bill

Drug prohibition has led to a number of "maybe unintended, but quite negative consequences" for the state. Marijuana violations have entangled "too many young people" in the criminal justice system, and prosecution for marijuana possession disproportionately affects black communities despite similar usage. "The war on drugs has unfortunately failed," Madaleno said. "I just think it's time that we take a different approach, one that says this product can be regulated."
Source: The Diamondback (U.MD.) on 2018 Maryland Gubernatorial race Mar 2, 2017

Larry Hogan: New tools to pursue criminal organizations in drug trade

Governor Larry Hogan today joined 46 governors in signing the Compact to Fight Opioid Addiction, which was developed by and released today through the National Governors Association (NGA). "Far too many families and communities have experienced the devastation caused by heroin and opioid abuse," said Governor Hogan.

Governor Hogan established the Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task Force, which issued its final report In December 2015, containing 33 recommendations to address heroin and opioid abuse, including expanding access to treatment and boosting overdose prevention efforts. Funding has been included in the last two budgets to address heroin addiction and treatment, as well as additional measures that are part of the administration's criminal justice reform effort. The governor championed the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, and provided state attorneys with new tools to pursue criminal organizations involved in drug trade.

Source: 2018 Maryland Governor campaign press release Jul 13, 2016

  • The above quotations are from 2018 Maryland Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Drugs.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Larry Hogan 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: Mar 19, 2019