State of Ohio Archives: on Drugs


Bernie Moreno: Get tough on the illicit distribution and sale of opioids

The opioid epidemic is a serious crisis affecting Ohio. We need to get tough on those who engage in the illicit distribution and sale of opioids while developing and implementing smart policies that facilitate prevention strategies and treatment efforts. As a father and grandfather, I take this issue very seriously and will work tirelessly to take this fight to our nation's capital.
Source: 2022 Ohio Senate campaign website BernieMoreno.com Dec 24, 2021

Bob Taft: Enact more laws to fight methamphetamines

A danger is menacing our children. Whatever you call it - meth, ice, or crank - methamphetamines have many street names but a single result - lives destroyed. Law enforcement officials are seizing record amounts of meth, and seeing an alarming surge in the number of labs that produce it. So today, I ask you to join me in enacting laws to fight this illicit drug and to attack these toxic labs. We will not allow this drug to destroy more lives in Ohio!
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to Ohio Legislature Jan 24, 2001

Charlie Wilson: Strengthen penalties for drug-related crimes

Source: 1998 Ohio Legislative National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 1998

Eric Deaton: Rehabilitate drug sellers rather than just locking them up

Q: Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related training and job-placement assistance when released?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with substance abuse treatment?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support reduced prison sentences for non-violent offenders?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support mandatory prison sentences for selling illegal drugs?

A: No. Educating and rehabilitating prison inmates to stop the cycle of crime in their lives will make them better citizens and more productive to society in the long run. We should work to stop this endless battle against crime in the repeat offenders and give them other options in life. In the long run this is a cheaper option than just locking them up over and over again.

Source: Ohio Congressional 2010 Political Courage Test Aug 11, 2010

Eric Fingerhut: Decriminalize medical marijuana

Source: Ohio Congressional 2002 National Political Awareness Test Nov 5, 2002

Jim Renacci: Opposes recreational marijuana legalization

Q: Legalize or decriminalize marijuana?

Sherrod Brown (D): Supports medical legalization. Wants to study how legalizing recreational works elsewhere before legalizing in Ohio. Opposes federal intervention.

Jim Renacci (R): Opposes recreational legalization. Watch how medical implementation goes. Voted against protecting states from federal intervention.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Ohio Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Joe Schiavoni: Can't arrest our way out of opioid crisis

Must dramatically increase funding for treatment options and law enforcement to fight the opioid epidemic that is devastating our communities. This is a health crisis. And it must be treated like one. We can't arrest our way out of this problem. We need a comprehensive plan to attack the issue from every angle. This means prevention, education, emergency response, law enforcement, and treatment and recovery services.
Source: 2018 Ohio Governor website JoeForOhio.com Aug 17, 2017

John Kasich: 50% lower chance of drug use if kids hear "don't do drugs"

"Start Talking": Do you know about this? We've got a lot of new members here. If a young person hears "do not do drugs," there is a 50 percent less chance they will ever do it. A 50 percent less chance. Now, in your districts, you can spread it. We've spoken now, I think--well, I know the last time I checked--to over 26,000 kids. We've gotten teachers involved. And, ladies and gentlemen that are here in Wilmington, I don't care where you are. You're in a restaurant? You walk over there and you see those kids. You tell them to stay off the drugs. [Look at] the tsunami of trouble we have in this community because of addiction. We need to be in our schools. We need to be in our communities. We need to be in our synagogues. We need to be in our churches. We need to be everywhere. Don't leave it to somebody else.
Source: State of the State address to 2015 Ohio Legislature Feb 24, 2015

John Kasich: Shut down the pill mills; put crooked doctors in jail

On drug addiction. Seven years ago, I went down to southern Ohio. And I met these ladies, and they walked in with these pictures. Well, who's on the picture? Beautiful young people--sons, daughters, football captain, cheerleader, whatever. I said, "what's up, moms?" They're all dead. We've got pill mills down here and they're passing these pills out. They're passing out pills down here like they're going through the McDonald's for french fries. I said "we will shut this down." How it operated all these years, I don't really understand. We shut the pill mills down. We put the crooked doctors in jail whenever we could.

We moved the Highway Patrol into more aggressive interdiction to remove illegal drugs. Here's the understanding about Ohio. Why is Ohio at the epicenter of all this? It's location. 600 miles within 60 percent of the country. It's only a day from Mexico and the drug cartels. Believe me. Talk to the patrol. It's only a few hours from Chicago.

Source: 2017 Ohio State of the State address Apr 5, 2017

John Kasich: StartTalking! Talk to kids to say no to opiates

On prescription opiate abuse: We were one of the first states to create prescribing guidelines for doctors. Seven days of opiates for adults and no more than five days for children. Don't be giving all this stuff. We linked our medical providers into our pharmacy system to slow doctor shopping. For those that are chronically ill, we're not out to take your medication away. But you're more closely watched by your physician.

We created StartTalking! Talk to your kids. Talk to somebody who's not your kid. Just talk about it. 50% less likelihood if somebody would do drugs, opiates, that's how they start. These young kids, they go to a party and somebody says, "hey, they've got a bowl of pills." That's the moment of truth. The answer is "no, I don't want to be cool by taking drugs." That's what we're trying to do with StartTalking!

We spent nearly $1 billion on this issue of drugs. Our work is paying off. A 20 percent reduction in opiate prescriptions. Doctor shopping has fallen by 80%.

Source: 2017 Ohio State of the State address Apr 5, 2017

John Kasich: No mixed message: don't do opioids & don't do marijuana

Gov. John Kasich said he doesn't think Ohio's new medical marijuana program will help mitigate the state's opioid crisis, though recent studies indicate otherwise.

Kasich was asked at a news conference announcing new opioid prescription limits what role medical marijuana might play in addressing the growing number of opiate overdose deaths in Ohio. Kasich said telling kids not to do drugs but that marijuana is OK sends a mixed message. "I know it's not recreational marijuana, not recreational use, but I don't see a role for it in this at all," Kasich said.

Studies have shown opioid overdoses and deaths have decreased in states that allow medical marijuana, which is far less addictive and lethal. Republicans and Democrats cited the opioid crisis as a reason to pass Ohio's medical marijuana law last year.

"I don't like the whole thing -- medical marijuana," Kasich said. "It got passed because somebody was going to have a broader law."

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer on 2018 Ohio gubernatorial race Mar 30, 2017

John Kasich: 2016: Legalized medical marijuana, with tight regulations

Twenty-eight states and Washington D.C. have legalized medical marijuana use. Ohio's medical marijuana law, signed by Kasich last June, allows patients with one of 21 medical conditions to buy and use marijuana if recommended to them by a physician. Smoking marijuana and growing it at home are not allowed.

Three state agencies are in the process of establishing a tightly regulated program to grow and sell medical marijuana in limited amounts.

Studies have shown marijuana can alleviate pain. The most recent study found hospitalization rates for painkiller addiction and abuse dropped 23% on average in states after they allowed medical marijuana use. Hospitalization rates for overdoses dropped 13%, according to the report published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

"I don't like the whole thing -- medical marijuana," Kasich said. "It got passed because somebody was going to have a broader law."

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer on 2018 Ohio gubernatorial race Mar 30, 2017

John Kasich: Longer prison sentences for fentanyl-related offenses

Gov. John Kasich signed into law a bill imposing longer prison sentences for "merchants of death" dealing fentanyl. Kasich's signing of Senate Bill 1 increases prison sentences for drug offenses involving fentanyl-related compounds, with those convicted potentially facing more felony time for trafficking, possession and funding of trafficking involving the deadly synthetic opioid that has fueled a spiral of fatal overdoses.

The bill lowers the amounts required to trigger escalating levels of felony penalties, keeping offenders in prison longer. "We're sending a message ... they're going to go to prison for a very long time," Kasich said.

Drug dealers convicted as major drug offenders in fentanyl-compound cases face additional mandatory prison terms of three to eight years. In some cases, the penalty for permitting drug abuse involving fentanyl will increase from a first-degree misdemeanor (a maximum of six months in jail) to a fifth-degree felony (up to a year in prison).

Source: Columbus Dispatch on Ohio legislative records: Senate Bill 1 Aug 1, 2018

Jon Husted: If #1 in jobs & education, Ohio wouldn't be #1 in opioids

On the opioid epidemic: "Right now, Ohio is number one in opioid deaths, and that is unacceptable," he said. "If we were number one in job training and education, I promise you we would not be number one in opioid deaths. So it's also about giving people hope and purpose in their lives so they don't turn to drugs and alcohol as a way of coping with the pain in their lives."
Source: Chillicothe Gazette on 2018 Ohio gubernatorial race May 11, 2017

Joyce Beatty: Strengthen penalties for drug-related crimes

Source: Ohio Legislative 2000 National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 2000

Mike DeWine: Opposes recreational marijuana; opposes Ballot issue 1

Q: Legalize or decriminalize marijuana? Support Ohio Ballot Issue 1, which reduces first & second arrests for simple drug possession to non-jail time misdemeanors? Related, how to best address opioid crisis?

Richard Cordray (D): Would legalize. Supports Issue 1 as alternative to failed drug & incarceration policies. "Can't arrest way out of opioid crisis," so fund treatment & prevention programs, train law enforcement, & boost state support for families.

Mike DeWine (R): Opposes recreational marijuana legalization or decriminalization. Sued Toledo when the city passed municipal decriminalization. Also opposes Issue 1. To help address opioid crisis, expand substance-abuse & early intervention programs, and add drug courts.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Ohio Governor race Oct 9, 2018

Mary Taylor: Focus on prevention and reducing the supply of drugs

The number of fatalities from drug overdoses in Ohio is staggering. This is a crisis for the entire nation and Ohio is the epicenter. As Governor, Mary Taylor will build on the efforts that have been established to focus on prevention and reducing the supply of drugs: