2023 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Drugs


Andy Beshear: Time for General Assembly to legalize medical cannabis

Treating people right also dictates that in this session, this General Assembly finally legalize medical cannabis. Far too many Kentuckians are suffering from life-threatening and chronic conditions, like our veterans with PTSD, or Kentuckians with cancer. That is why I issued my executive order. It allows people to get the help they need without fearing a misdemeanor.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Kentucky legislature Jan 4, 2023

Laura Kelly: Time for Kansas to finally legalize medical marijuana

There's another common-sense way to improve health care here in Kansas--and that's to finally legalize medical marijuana. In 39 other states, Americans with chronic pain, seizure disorders, and PTSD can access medical marijuana to relieve their suffering. But it's still illegal here in Kansas. Every day, thousands of Kansans are forced to choose between breaking the law and living without pain. It is an unbearable choice--and an absolutely unnecessary one.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Kansas legislature Jan 24, 2023

Mike Dunleavy: Increase penalty for fentanyl deaths from 20 to 99 years

I'll be introducing legislation that declares war on those who are recklessly dealing fentanyl and fentanyl-laced drugs in our communities. I'll introduce legislation to increase the penalty for a dealer who sells poison that results in the death of anyone. Right now this act can only be charged as manslaughter with a maximum sentence of just 20 years. Under my legislation, we'll increase this penalty to second-degree murder with a sentence of up to 99 years. These people deserve nothing less.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Alaska legislature Jan 23, 2023

Glenn Youngkin: Make sale of deadly drugs a felony homicide

Two years ago, this body passed a bill to make the sale, manufacture, and distribution of drugs killing our children, our friends and our neighbors a felony homicide. It was vetoed by the last Governor, despite the fact it could have - and would have - saved countless lives. Send me that bill again, and I promise you - I will sign it.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature Jan 11, 2023

Greg Abbott: Treat fentanyl deaths as poisonings, prosecute as murders

Mexican drug cartels make fentanyl look like legitimate medicine -- even candy. But that one pill can kill. To end cartel killings of Texans, we must do two things: call fentanyl deaths what they are -- poisonings -- and prosecute them as murders. We must also increase the supply of lifesaving NARCAN, so we can save more Texans who are ambushed by fentanyl.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Texas legislature Feb 16, 2023

Janet Mills: Expert in substance abuse for every child welfare district

The drug epidemic is jeopardizing the safety, security and welfare of our youngest children as well as our adults. Substance use disorder is identified as a risk factor in 53% of cases when a child is removed from the home. I am directing the Department of Health and Human Services to embed a clinical expert in substance use disorder in every child welfare district in Maine to better recognize the influence of substance use, to navigate the risks to children, and to steer parents into treatment.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Maine legislature Feb 14, 2023

Kevin Stitt: We have deactivated over 800 illegal marijuana farms

Protecting Oklahomans means fully funding our law enforcement. When we back the blue, we are creating safer communities, safer schools, and a safer Oklahoma. This also extends to combating drug and human trafficking and cracking down on illegal marijuana operations in our state. We have deactivated over 800 illegal marijuana farms, completed 165 arrests, and seized over 600,000 pounds of illegal marijuana.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Oklahoma legislature Feb 6, 2023

  • The above quotations are from 2023 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 Andy Beshear on Drugs.
  • Click here for more quotes by Dan McKee 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: Apr 02, 2023