State of Louisiana Archives: on Drugs
Antoine Pierce:
Favors recreational & medical marijuana legalization
Top Policy Priorities: - Medicinal cannabis prescription and recreational legalization
- Pass criminal justice reform
-
Universal Healthcare/Medicare For All
- Protect women's rights and autonomy
Source: 2020 Louisiana Senate campaign website AntoinePierce.com
Feb 4, 2020
Charles Boustany:
Consistently votes against marijuana reform
A number of candidates are competing to replace retiring Sen. David Vitter (R). Most notably is Rep. John Fleming (R), one of a dwindling handful of House members who consistently make a point of speaking out against marijuana law reform whenever
possible.One marijuana advocate claimed that the contest is "the only senate race that keeps me up at night" because of its potential of sending a new ardent prohibitionist to the chamber.
Due to Senate rules, just one member can hold things up and cause considerable problems for reform efforts. "There are only a handful of old school reefer madness legislators willing to fight left in Congress," the
advocate said. "Fleming is one of them."
Also running in the primary is Congressman Charles Boustany (R), who also consistently votes against marijuana law reform efforts but isn't nearly as vocal about it as Fleming is.
Source: Marijuana.com on 2016 Louisiana Senate race
Jun 13, 2016
David Vitter:
Strengthen penalties against meth and heroin dealers
As the parents of four, David and Wendy Vitter's number one priority is protecting their family. That's why keeping our streets safe and our communities drug-free isn't a cheap sound byte; its David's solid commitment. That means reforming criminal
justice so we don't warehouse young, non-violent offenders with hardened criminals so that the only skills they learn are those they'll use against us.- As our governor, David will target the continuing threats of methamphetamine labs,
OxyContin abuse, and other prescription drug abuse in our rural communities.
- David authored legislation to increase the minimum jail sentence for drug dealers who target our children, because we can't be too tough on
dangerous criminals who target our single most precious resource.
- David passed a budget amendment greatly strengthening penalties against meth and heroin dealers, particularly if the sale results in overdose or death.
Source: 2015 Louisiana Governor campaign website, DavidVitter.com
Aug 11, 2015
Eddie Rispone:
Against legalizing marijuana; need info about medical use
Rispone said, "I don't know much about marijuana." He said he would definitely be against legalizing recreational marijuana and said he would
need more information about medicinal marijuana proposals before staking out a position on the issue.
Source: The Advocate on 2019 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
Mar 29, 2019
Gary Chambers:
Smoked marijuana in campaign ad to promote legalization
Chambers released an ad showing the candidate smoking marijuana while promoting a pathway toward legalizing the drug. "I hope this ad works to not only destigmatize the use of marijuana, but also forces a new conversation that creates the
pathway to legalize this beneficial drug, and forgive those who were arrested due to outdated ideology," Chambers said in the ad.
Source: CBS News on 2022 Louisiana Senate race
Jan 18, 2022
Gary Chambers:
More than half of drug arrests for marijuana possession
[On the War on Drugs]: "Every 37 seconds, someone is arrested for possession of marijuana," Chambers says. "Since 2010, state and local police have arrested an estimated 7.3 million Americans for violating marijuana laws, over half of all drug arrests,"
he says."Black people are four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana laws than white people," Chambers continues. He adds that: "most of the people police are arresting aren't dealers, but rather people just like me."
Source: The New York Post on 2022 Louisiana Senate race
Jan 18, 2022
Jay Dardenne:
Opposes legalizing marijuana
Asked two questions about marijuana, none of the major candidates said he had ever smoked marijuana,
and all four opposed legalizing the drug, as other states have done.
Source: Baton Rouge Advocate on 2015 Louisiana Gubernatorial debate
Oct 1, 2015
John Bel Edwards:
Opposes legalizing marijuana
Asked two questions about marijuana, none of the major candidates said he had ever smoked marijuana,
and all four opposed legalizing the drug, as other states have done.
Source: Baton Rouge Advocate on 2015 Louisiana Gubernatorial debate
Oct 1, 2015
John Bel Edwards:
Expand medical marijuana, but no recreational usage
Marijuana: Legalize or decriminalize legalize marijuana? Abraham: No on recreational. Current medical marijuana law OK, but don't expand.
Bel Edwards: No on recreational. Expand medical marijuana qualifying conditions.
Rispone: No on recreational
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Guide to 2019 Louisiana Governor race
Nov 1, 2018
John Fleming:
OpEd: One of few remaining "reefer madness" legislators
A number of candidates are competing to replace retiring Sen. David Vitter (R). Most notably is Rep. John Fleming (R), one of a dwindling handful of House members who consistently make a point of speaking out against marijuana law reform whenever
possible.One marijuana advocate claimed that the contest is "the only senate race that keeps me up at night" because of its potential of sending a new ardent prohibitionist to the chamber.
Due to Senate rules, just one member can hold things up and cause considerable problems for reform efforts. "There are only a handful of old school reefer madness legislators willing to fight left in Congress," the
advocate said. "Fleming is one of them."
Also running in the primary is Congressman Charles Boustany (R), who also consistently votes against marijuana law reform efforts but isn't nearly as vocal about it as Fleming is.
Source: Marijuana.com on 2016 Louisiana Senate race
Jun 13, 2016
Ralph Abraham:
Opioids are less dangerous and more effective than marijuana
From 2006 to 2012, two pharmacies in rural Mangham and Winnsboro, owned by Republican gubernatorial candidate Ralph Abraham, doled out 1,478,236 doses of powerful opioids. The two communities have a combined population of approximately 6,000 people.
Abraham has been openly enthusiastic about his support for opioid treatments, once suggesting that the drugs are far less dangerous and much more effective than medical marijuana.
"As a physician, let me tell you. What I see in my practice, from any
level of marijuana use, is bad," Abraham stated in a 2014 debate. "I'm against recreational, I'm against medical. In the medical profession, for these chronic pain, poor cancer patients that need help, we have other alternatives that work better,
Dilaudid, OxyContin, you name it, Oxycodone, we have several options that do a much better job for chronic pain."
Opioid overdoses surged an astonishing 14% in 2014, which was largely a consequence of physicians overprescribing the drugs.
Source: Bayou Brief on 2019 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
Aug 28, 2019
Ralph Abraham:
Medical marijuana OK as-is, but no recreational usage
Marijuana: Legalize or decriminalize legalize marijuana? Abraham: No on recreational. Current medical marijuana law OK, but don't expand.
Bel Edwards: No on recreational. Expand medical marijuana qualifying conditions.
Rispone: No on recreational
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Guide to 2019 Louisiana Governor race
Nov 1, 2018
Thomas Clements:
Marijuana is a benefit to people's health
Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Marijuana is a gateway drug"?
A: Marijuana is a benefit to people's health. War on people with prescription marijuana drugs should not be a crime. It's health issues rather than crime issue.
Source: Email interview on 2016 Louisiana Senate race by OnTheIssues
Jul 31, 2016
Gary Chambers:
Fully legalize marijuana at the state and federal level
We must fully legalize marijuana at the state and federal level. Gary will advocate for and vote to pass legislation that will allow for the tax revenues created from the sale of marijuana to fund reparations programs for Black Americans.
Additionally, all individuals incarcerated for nonviolent marijuana offenses should be released and their records expunged.
Source: 2022 Senate campaign website ChambersForLouisiana.com
Oct 12, 2022
Luke Mixon:
Supports Biden's move to review how marijuana is classified
I also applaud President Biden's decision to initiate a review of how marijuana is scheduled, to ensure that we are being guided by the facts and science--
not outdated propaganda. -- Luke Mixon (@LukeMixonLA) October 6, 2022
Source: MarijuanaMoment.net on 2022 Louisiana Senate race
Oct 6, 2022
Jeff Landry:
Allows recommending marijuana via telemedicine visit
According to an opinion from Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, physicians can recommend medical marijuana to patients via a telemedicine visit. Gretna Representative Joe Marino said while doctors can't prescribe schedule 2 medication like
narcotics without an in-person visit, marijuana is not in the same classification. Both Landry and Marino interpreted the law regarding doctor visits and access to medical marijuana to allow telemedicine visits.
Source: Louisiana Radio Network on 2023 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
Jan 9, 2023
Sharon Hewitt:
Greatly increase the penalties for fentanyl dealers
One of the most urgent challenges facing our young adults is the risk of fentanyl overdoses. It's heart-breaking. I have legislation that I have authored that will greatly increase the penalties for
fentanyl dealers and those operating these makeshift clandestine labs in hopes of running these criminals out of our state and protecting our young people from one bad decision.
Source: 2023 Louisiana Governor campaign website SharonHewitt.com
Oct 3, 2023
Sharon Hewitt:
Received F from Marijuana Policy Project, against legalizing
The Marijuana Policy Project has released a voter guide for the October 14th primary so voters can see where the candidates, as well as incumbent legislators, stand on a variety of cannabis issues. Southeast Legislative Manager at MPP, Kevin Caldwell,
says gubernatorial candidate Sharon Hewitt received an "F" grade. "Senator Sharon Hewitt has a very negative record on voting on cannabis and has told Gambit Magazine in New Orleans that she does not support legalization," said Caldwell.
Source: Louisiana Radio Network on 2023 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
Sep 19, 2023
Shawn Wilson:
Act urgently to deal with out-of-control opioid addiction
If we would have treated the crack-cocaine epidemic as a public health crisis, many lives would have been saved. The out-of-control addiction to opioids and other illegal substances will undermine the state's well-being and continue to destroy
families unless we act with a sense of urgency. We have to use all the tools of government to address this public health and safety crisis.
Source: 2023 Louisiana Governor campaign website WilsonForLA.com
Oct 5, 2023
Bill Cassidy:
Reclassify fentanyl as a Schedule I drug
Members of the Senate passed the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act to permanently reclassify fentanyl as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act and impose stricter penalties for traffickers caught smuggling fentanyl-related
substances across the border."This is not the end-all, be-all. There is no silver bullet short of national revival, universal revival to end the fentanyl epidemic, but there is silver buckshot," Senator Bill Cassidy.
Source: Presidential Prayer Team on 2026 Louisiana Senate race
Mar 18, 2025
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026