Survey of 2024 Senate campaign websites: on Drugs

Barbara Lee: Co-Chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus

Lee has long been a champion of cannabis justice. As a Co-Chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, she helps lead the coalition of members of Congress fighting to end the war on drugs. Lee has always opposed America's War on Drugs as unjust, classist, and racist. She introduced the first cannabis reform bill focused on racial justice, the Marijuana Justice Act, in 2019. The legislation would deschedule marijuana at the federal level and repair some of the harm from the failed War on Drugs. Source: 2024 California Senate campaign website Lee.House.gov Jul 19, 2022

Frank LaRose: Led effort increasing penalties for opioid epidemic

Frank led the charge to combat the opioid epidemic by sponsoring Senate Bill 1, a bill to increase criminal penalties for trafficking or possessing fentanyl. Frank made clear that those who were addicted needed to be in treatment, "but those who are trafficking this poison need to be in prison." He cosponsored a bill allowing judges to give longer prison terms for major drug offenders, and he led the effort to increase penalties for violent career criminals. Source: 2024 Ohio Senate campaign website FrankLaRose.com Jul 25, 2023

Andy Kim: Educate the public on fentanyl & synthetic opioids

Authored legislation that would direct the CDC to conduct a public education campaign about the dangers of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids as well as the treatment services available.
Authored legislation that would direct the CDC to disseminate information on synthetic opioids to healthcare providers and require the development of training materials for first responders and other workers at high risk of exposure on synthetic opioid exposure prevention measures.

Source: 2024 New Jersey Senate campaign website Kim.House.gov Sep 26, 2023

Marc Carmichael: Will push to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule 3 drug

Will push for marijuana to be reclassified at the federal level from a Schedule 1 drug to a Schedule 3. [OnTheIssues explanation: Schedule 1 refers to drugs such as heroin, LSD, and currently marijuana, defined as having "no currently acceptable medical use and a high potential for abuse." Schedule 3 drugs are still "controlled substances," such as Tylenol with Codeine. The result of reclassification would be to reduce penalties for marijuana possession.] Source: 2024 Indiana Senate campaign website MarcForIndiana.com Sep 11, 2023

Kari Lake: End federal support for so-called "harm reduction" policies

Rebuilding a national system of in-patient treatment centers, halfway houses, and assisted-living facilities for drug and mental health treatment of the most seriously addicted and mentally-deranged individuals to get the treatment they need and get back on a path to wellness.

Refocus federal policy to lead with services and treatment, and end federal support for so-called "harm reduction" policies that have failed and are only enabling chronic street homelessness and drug use as a lifestyle.

Source: 2024 Arizona Senate campaign website KariLake.com Oct 11, 2023

Raul Garcia: Country should increase focus on drug addiction programs

A healthy country will have an increased focus on drug addiction programs, mental health facilities and personnel, access to healthcare, the restoration of a strong K-12 education with the addition of technical apprentice programs, and true and swift accountability for those who break the law. A healthy U.S. Senate will have a Senator who has first hand experience treating patients with fentanyl overdose, addiction, and critical mental health needs. Source: 2024 Washington Senate campaign website GarciaForWA.com Feb 26, 2024

Mark Lamb: We must declare the drug cartels as terrorist organizations

Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for American adults and is flowing right across the Southern Border, smuggled in by the cartels. Simply put, fentanyl is poisoning an entire generation of Americans, our children in particular, who are often targeted for recruitment by the criminal cartels. Decisive action is needed to eliminate the cartels and save lives. We must declare the cartels as terrorist organizations and destroy them just like we did to ISIS. Source: 2024 Arizona Senate campaign website SheriffLamb.com Jun 28, 2024

John Deaton: Opioid addiction is directly related to Border crisis

America has lost over 1 million lives due to opioid addiction. Every 5 minutes, 1 person dies in the USA from a drug overdose and 72% of the overdoses are fentanyl. Currently, Opioid-related overdose deaths in MA increased by 2.5% in 2022 compared to 2021 with rates among Black residents making up the largest increase. Unfortunately, MA often ranks in the top 10 states for drug overdose deaths. The fentanyl crisis in this country is directly related to the Southern Border crisis. China is exporting fentanyl through our southern border, and we must address the root of the problem, or the U.S. will continue battling addiction and losing American lives. We must secure the border and invest in treatment and behavioral health. Source: 2024 Massachusetts JohnDeatonForSenate.com campaign website Sep 9, 2024

Dan Osborn: Stop putting people in prison for cannabis crimes

There is no reason for the federal government to ban medical cannabis. We waste tens of millions of dollars enforcing the prohibition of a plant with medicinal properties. This benefits nobody but the pharmaceutical companies who would prefer one less competitor. Our policy of cannabis prohibition has turned families and seniors seeking pain relief into criminals. It's time to remove cannabis from Schedule I and stop wasting taxpayer dollars on putting people in prison for cannabis crimes. Source: 2024 Nebraska Senate campaign website OsbornForSenate.com Jul 5, 2024

David Costello: Increase funding for substance abuse, mental health services

Increase funding for community policing, substance abuse, and mental health services.
Focus increased investigative and prosecutorial resources on violent offenses.
Enhance police training and accountability.
Build on recent common-sense gun safety laws and regulations.

Source: 2024 Maine Senate campaign website CostelloForSenate.com Oct 1, 2024

The above quotations are from Survey of 2024 Senate campaign websites. Click here for definitions & background information on Drugs. Click here for other issues (main summary page). Click here for more quotes by Elizabeth Warren on Drugs. Click here for more quotes by Ted Cruz on Drugs.
*Candidates and political leaders on Drugs:*
*Candidates for President & Vice-President:* V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA) Chase Oliver(L-GA) Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA) Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL) Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH) Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN) Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ)	*2024 presidential primary contenders:* Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE) N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R) N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R) Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R) S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R) Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R) Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN) U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN) Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH) S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
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Page last updated: Nov 03, 2024