State of Montana Archives: on Drugs
Mike Cooney:
Let voters decide if legalization is right for the state
Q: Legalize recreational marijuana? Support Initiatives I-190 and I-118 to do this?Mike Cooney: Not opposed, but let voters decide on "a commonsense strategy that suits Montana's needs."
Greg Gianforte: No. Keep medical marijuana legal, but opposes recreational legalization, and specifically opposes I-190/I-118.
Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 Montana Gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2020
Susan Good Geise:
Consistently for legalization of marijuana
A number of people have asked for my position on the legalization of marijuana in Montana.
My position, since Day 1, has been the same: I'm for it.
Source: Facebook posting on 2020 Montana Senate race
May 17, 2020
Jack Ciattarelli:
Meth abuse is the number one crisis in the state
The number one driver of the substance abuse crisis in Montana is methamphetamine, a particularly dangerous drug because of the physiological and psychological effects it has on people. Almost 100% of it comes from Mexico. Until we slow that
down or stop it, we have to have all-of-the-above approach. That's what we've been trying to do with the Aid Montana Project, which I would continue working on as governor. We've got our hands full. I see it as the number one crisis in our state.
Source: Boulder Monitor on 2020 Montana gubernatorial race
Apr 1, 2020
Tim Fox:
Hold opioid manufacturers accountable for recklessness
Fox sued two major distributors of prescription painkillers, saying they're partly responsible for a tidal wave of drugs that have led to addiction, deaths and illegal sales. "It is time to hold these companies accountable for their reckless behavior,
which put profits ahead of public safety," he said. The lawsuit said McKesson Corp. and Cardinal Health should have reported to authorities the suspiciously large and frequent orders of opioid drugs they brought into Montana from 2006-2014.
Source: KTVH-Helena on 2020 Montana gubernatorial race
Mar 26, 2020
Tim Fox:
Substance abuse is number one crisis in state
Democratic governors have failed to adequately address the substance-abuse crisis, Fox asserted. "The substance-use disorder crisis is the number-one crisis in our state," he said. "We all know somebody who knows somebody who's had an issue."
Fox is proud of his record on tackling substance abuse in Montana since he became attorney general in 2013. He worked with the Montana Senate on a bill that combats "doctor-shopping" by opiate addicts and limits opioid prescriptions for certain patients.
Source: Daily Inter Lake on 2020 Montana governor race
Sep 28, 2019
Tim Fox:
Need more treatment options, like drug treatment courts
We need more treatment options. I brought a bill to expand and create a steady funding stream for drug treatment courts. Treatment courts are a proven alternative to incarceration for many in our justice system who struggle with substance abuse.
This year's legislation is a step in the right direction, but it cannot be the final step.
Source: Helena Independent Record OpEd: 2020 Montana governor race
Jul 15, 2019
Greg Gianforte:
Oppose easing marijuana laws; some support for medical use
Has not supported any of the following:- Allow Cannabis Businesses to Use Banks
- Allow VA Doctors to Recommend Medical Cannabis
- Allow States to Legalize Medical Cannabis
- Allow States to Legalize Recreational Cannabis
-
End Cannabis Prohibition at Federal Level
In 2017, said he believes medical marijuana should be available to people in chronic pain, under the care of a doctor. He added that he opposes legalizing recreational marijuana.
Source: Cannabis Voter Project on 2020 Montana gubernatorial race
May 24, 2019
Jon Tester:
Medical marijuana ok; full legalization later
Q: Legalize or decriminalize marijuana?Matt Rosendale (R): Supports medical marijuana. State should determine recreational use.
Jon Tester (D): Supports medical use. Feds need to respect vote. Hesitant about full legalization, but alcohol arguably worse.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Montana Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Matt Rosendale:
Medical marijuana ok; let states decide full legalization
Q: Legalize or decriminalize marijuana?Matt Rosendale (R): Supports medical marijuana. State should determine recreational use.
Jon Tester (D): Supports medical use. Feds need to respect vote. Hesitant about full legalization, but alcohol arguably worse.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Montana Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Albert Olszewski:
Class 1 narcotics like marijuana should not be legal
Q: What is your opinion on the recreational use of marijuana?
A: I have voted against any recreational vote on marijuana. It's a class 1 narcotic and it's illegal across the country."
Source: KGVO Newstalk Facebook posting on 2018 Montana Senate race
Apr 28, 2017
Corey Stapleton:
Making it easier to vote leads to marijuana legalization
According to the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Stapleton advised senators to think twice about "an all-mail-in ballot.""If you look at the three states that have done it, you can see that populism and direct democracy at its best, all three states--
Oregon, Washington and Colorado--they do all-mail-in ballots and they're all marijuana-all-the-time states too. Is that what you want? Because that's what you're going to get."
Source: The Guardian (UK) on 2020 Montana gubernatorial race
Feb 24, 2017
Amanda Curtis:
Medical marijuana law is over-restrictive
Curtis has come out in support of "reasonable" gun control legislation that would expand background checks, and has criticized a 2011 medical marijuana law passed by the state Legislature as over restrictive, and pushed to increase hiring of
Montanans for state public-works projects, according to the AP.
Source: The Hill e-zine on 2014 Montana Senate race
Aug 16, 2014
Steve Daines:
Limit federal DEA from interfering with state marijuana laws
A Montana group advocating the overhaul of marijuana laws praised U.S. Rep. Steve Daines on Friday for his vote to limit the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration from interfering with state medical-marijuana laws. A spokesman for the Montana chapter of
the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), called it "a political game changer":"What we see is that conservatives in Congress are adhering to their principles in support of state's rights and reducing Big Government programs,
even when it comes to subjects like marijuana policy. We applaud Steve Daines for standing up for Montana's laws, and expect Montana's senators to do the same."
Daines was one of 49 Republicans who voted to limit federal authority. The House, by a
219-189 vote, supported an amendment to deny funding for any efforts to prevent states from implementing their own medical-marijuana laws. "This is a matter of states' rights," a Daines spokesman said.
Source: Billings Gazette on 2014 Montana Senate race
May 30, 2014
Steve Bullock:
Confront the invisible epidemic of prescription drug abuse
Since taking office as Attorney General, Steve has:- Worked with law enforcement, doctors, pharmacists and educators to directly confront the invisible epidemic of prescription drug abuse--a contributing factor in the deaths of over
300 Montanans every year.
- Implemented monumental changes to the way we deal with repeat DUI offenders who cause carnage on our highways, burden our corrections system and cost taxpayers millions.
Source: Montana Governor campaign 2012 website, www.stevebullock.com
Nov 6, 2012
Champ Edmunds:
Decriminalize marijuana; support substance abuse treatment
Q: Do you support decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?A: Yes.
Q: Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
A: Yes.
Source: Montana Legislative Election 2012 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
Matt Rosendale:
Decriminalize and handle marijuana like a prescription drug
Q: Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?A: Yes.
Q: Do you support decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support increased restrictions on the production of medical marijuana in Montana?
A: Yes.
Rosendale adds, "Medical Marijuana should be handled like any other prescription drug
. Prescribed by a doctor, manufactured in a state authorized and monitored facility, distributed by a pharmacy. If this can not be achieved, than its use shouldn't be allowed."
Source: Montana 2012 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
Bill McChesney:
Medical marijuana ok; but wait on decriminalization
Q: Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?A: Yes. We need to bring the use of medical marijuana back to the original intent of the initiative.
Q: Should the possession of small amounts
of marijuana be decriminalized?
A: I need a lot more information before addressing this...
Q: Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
A: Yes.
Source: Montana State Congressional 2010 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2010
Gary Perry:
Sponsored law banning open alcohol containers in vehicles
In previous sessions, Perry has successfully sponsored several high-profile bills. In his first session, in 2003, he sponsored the bill that gave the OK for bison to be hunted again in Montana. In 2005, his bill to ban open containers of alcohol
in vehicles passed, ending a long feud in Montana that set personal freedoms against public safety and federal highway dollars.
Source: Bozeman Daily Chronicle on Montana legislative voting record
Apr 23, 2009
Dennis Rehberg:
Fund advertisements intended to reduce methamphetamine use
As part of the debate on the reauthorization of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Congresswoman Capito joined four of her colleagues in offering an amendment to improve awareness of the methamphetamine epidemic. Capito joined Rep.
Rehberg (MT), Rep. Boozman (AR), Rep. King (IA), & Rep. Graves (MO) in offering the amendment.The amendment ensures that no less than ten percent of the national media campaign funds will be expended on advertisements specifically intended to reduce
methamphetamine use. The Director of ONDCP will also have the authority to award grants to private entities producing research-based public service messages, with the goal of reducing first-time meth use among young people.
Said Capito, "We need to do
a better job of reaching out to young people and educating them about the dangers of meth before it's too late." The amendment was adopted this afternoon by the House of Representatives with the overall passage of the ONDCP reauthorization act.
Source: Vote-USA.org on 2010 Montana At-Large House incumbent
Oct 4, 2008
Conrad Burns:
Repealing Patriot Act would cost us the Meth Control Act
Q: What do you think about Executive Authority with regards to warrantless wiretapping? TESTER: If we want to get serious about the War on Terror, we need to make the investments to fight the war on terror. We ought not be taking rights away from
honest citizens. By the time they figure out there’s a terror cell, they can get a warrant. The Senator wants to let them have Carte Blanche.
BURNS: Clinton set the record for Executive Orders. And they too pushed the envelope as far as the
Constitution is concerned. But let me go back on this Patriot Act. It is a tool that is in place now for drug kingpins and organized crime. Why don’t you want that extended to terrorists? If you repeal it, as Mr. Tester wants to do, there goes the Meth
Control Act, and the ability to monitor international phone calls from known numbers of people who want to kill us.
TESTER: Let’s not put this under the War on Drugs--that’s baloney.
Source: 2006 Montana 3-way Senate Debate at MSU
Oct 9, 2006
Brian Schweitzer:
Stricter penalties for drug criminals
Q: What are your views on crime & drugs?A: We need stricter penalties for criminals who manufacture or sell drugs. I support vocational and substance abuse programs for non-violent offenders.
I strongly support enacting a ban on open containers in vehicles, and my running mate, Republican Senator John Bohlinger of Billings, has already submitted a bill draft to do so.
Source: 2004 Montana Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 2004
Bob Kelleher:
The war on drugs has been lost
Drug use is on the rise in Montana. In 1970 the federal bureau of prisons had less than 21,000 inmates--16% of whom were drug offenders. By last October the number of inmates had jumped almost 600%--to over 120,000.
In that time drug sentences jumped 340%. The cost of maintaining a federal prisoner a year will almost pay for a year’s tuition at Harvard or Yale! Half of the drug busts involved marijuana! The war on drugs has been lost--like prohibition against
alcohol in the days of gangster Al Capone. Sen. Duane Grimes, R-Clancy, chair of the Drug Study Committee, reported to Gov. Martz and Attorney General McGrath in September after an eight-month study that the war on drugs in
Montana is a failure and that we need two more treatment centers in addition to MCDC in Butte. Also lost are the taxes that could have been used for treatment centers or education. Why not ask Montana voters if the want to legalize and tax marijuana?
Source: Bob’s Message to Montana Schoolkids (15-min. TV interview)
Oct 1, 2002
John Bohlinger:
Decriminalize medicinal marijuana
Bohlinger Indicates support of the following principles to address crime.- Decriminalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
-
Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
- Strengthen penalties and sentences for sex offenders.
- Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious violent crimes as adults.
Source: Montana Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021