2022 MD Governor's race: on Drugs


Ashwani Jain: Legalize marijuana, expunge the records of those imprisoned

I will make Maryland move to fully legalize marijuana and allow for safe cultivation and distribution. This help generate needed revenue to pay for my Maryland Now Plan. By beginning/increasing cultivation to arable land in locations like Frederick County, the Upper Eastern Shore and even urban farms in Baltimore City, we can boost our agriculture sector and increase revenues for our local and state economy.
Source: Medium.com posting on 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race May 14, 2021

Ashwani Jain: Treat drug use as a public health crisis, not a crime

We need to treat drug use and addiction for what it truly is--not a crime that can be corrected with punishment, but a public health crisis requiring support for those suffering. Criminalizing opioid addiction disproportionately affects low-income communities, indigenous communities, and communities of color. We can move past the scourge of drug use in our communities but we need to do it through support for those most in need, rather than pushing those in need to have to hide their problem.
Source: Medium.com posting on 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race May 14, 2021

Dan Cox: Opposed to the legalization of marijuana

Q: What is your position on the legalization of marijuana?

A: Opposed.

Source: RedMaryland.com on 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race Feb 24, 2018

Doug Gansler: Legalize cannabis and expunge convictions

Legalize cannabis and expunge convictions:

Cannabis should be legal in the United States, and we will legalize it here. But we know the burden of cannabis convictions historically fell on Black Marylanders and we must right that wrong by expunging convictions and using the revenue from legalized cannabis to support investment in Black communities.

Source: 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial campaign website DougGansler.com Dec 29, 2021

Doug Gansler: Drug use should be treated like a public health problem

Drug courts in every jurisdiction presenting alternatives to incarceration:

Drug use should be treated like a public health problem and not a problem of criminality, as we already know it is in white communities. The Gansler administration will create alternatives to incarceration for drug abuse throughout the state.

Source: 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial campaign website DougGansler.com Dec 29, 2021

Peter Franchot: If legalized wants benefits to go to areas impacted in past

If recreational marijuana is legalized in a ballot initiative, the comptroller said he would focus on ensuring it would help economic growth in areas of the state disproportionately affected by enforcement for cannabis-related offenses and addresses past criminal justice inequities.
Source: WJZ (CBS Local) on 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race Oct 2, 2021

Rushern Baker: Those hit by war on drugs owed windfall from legalization

The communities hardest hit by the war on drugs are owed the financial windfall that will come from legalization. That's why we support legalizing cannabis for adult use while ensuring that minority and women-owned businesses are guaranteed an opportunity to receive dispensary licenses. Furthermore, we are proposing that tax revenue from legal cannabis be returned to these communities in the form of direct economic impact payments.
Source: 2022 Maryland Governor campaign website RushernBaker.com Jun 24, 2022

Wes Moore: Legalize cannabis, expunge possession convictions

Wes will legalize cannabis, expunge the records of anyone convicted of simple possession, and prioritize equitable access to this emerging industry.
Source: 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial campaign website WesMoore.com Jul 24, 2022

Robin Ficker: Supports legalizing cannabis; expunge past records

Q: Do you support legalizing cannabis possession and use in Maryland? If yes, what steps do you support to provide redress to those individuals and communities that were targeted by police and prosecutors in past years when attempting to enforce laws against the use and non-violent distribution of marijuana?

A: Yes. Expunge their records. I am a defense attorney, having completed 40,000+ cases

Source: Our Revolution Q&A on 2022 Maryland Gubernatorial race Apr 16, 2022

  • The above quotations are from 2022 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: Aug 01, 2023