State of South Carolina Archives: on Drugs


Joe Biden: Drugs don't cause mental health issues; it's the reverse

Social workers and school psychologists can pick up the early signs of distress among students. Generation Z, as you know, is the most--has the greatest anxiety of any generation in the country, for the first time in American history. We're in a situation where we have now learned that, for example, drug abuse doesn't cause mental health problems. Mental health problems cause drug abuse.
Source: CNN S.C. Town Hall amid 2020 primaries Mar 27, 2020

Mike Bloomberg: Decriminalize possession, but wait on pot & kids

Q: You have called marijuana another addictive drug that we've never done research on.

BLOOMBERG: Look, the first thing you do is we should not make this a criminal thing if you have a small amount. For dealers, yes, but for the average person, no, and you should expunge the records of those that got caught up in this before. Number two, we're not going to take it away from states that have already done it. But, number three, you should listen to the scientists and the doctors. They say go very slowly. They haven't done enough research. And the evidence so far is worrisome, before we get all our kids, particularly kids in their late teens, boys even more than girls, where this may be damaging their brains. Until we know the science, it's just nonsensical to push ahead. But the cat's out of the bag. So some states have it, you're not going to take it away. Get rid of the--decriminalize the possession.

Source: 10th Democratic Primary debate on eve of S.C. primary Feb 25, 2020

James Emerson Smith: Support the fight against drug addiction with resources

Heroin and opioid pain reliever overdoses in South Carolina outnumbered homicides in 2016. Addiction is a disease and we must support South Carolinians in recovery as we tackle the roots of this public health crisis. James will make special resources available to address the opioid crisis. This includes improving access to treatment and recovery resources, promoting non-opioid treatment options and use of overdose-reversing drugs.
Source: 2018 S.C. gubernatorial candidate website JamesSmith.com May 2, 2018

Henry McMaster: Operation Jackpot: keep drugs off the streets

Source: 2010 S.C. Gubernatorial campaign website HenryMcMaster.com Jan 11, 2017

Thomas Ravenel: Mexican border problems come from failed War on Drugs

With respect to the current borders crossings by Mexican youth, let me say this: The effects of our disastrous drug policy are now spilling over onto U.S. soil. As Ron Paul has said, this problem is a direct result of our failed 'War on Drugs', which by one estimate puts $300 billion per year into the hands of the most violent criminals on the face of the earth. On the other side, we give the Mexican government money to wage war with the drug cartels--and now children are being killed in the crossfire. Many Mexican policemen are given the choice between "plata o plomo," which means "silver or lead." In other words they can either accept hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes--or they can refuse and be killed or have a member of their family killed. And speaking of killing--who can forget the U.S. Justice Department's botched gun-running operation--"Fast and Furious?"
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, RavenelForSenate.com Sep 1, 2014

Alvin Greene: No mandatory drug sentences

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

A: No.

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.

Source: S.C. Congressional Election 2010 Political Courage Test Oct 1, 2010

  • The above quotations are from State of South Carolina Politicians: Archives.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Drugs.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2020 Presidential contenders on Drugs:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Oct 14, 2021