Josh Shapiro on Drugs

	Josh Shapiro on Drugs

It's time to catch up, legalize, regulate and tax marijuana

Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland--practically all of our neighbors--have legalized marijuana. We're losing out on an industry that, once fully implemented, would bring in more than 250 million dollars in annual revenue. It's time to catch up. I ask you to come together and send to my desk a bill that legalizes marijuana. But that bill should ensure the industry is regulated and taxed responsibly. Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the PA legislature , Feb 6, 2024

Has taken on Pharma over opioid epidemic

Josh is fighting our country's opioid epidemic, leading a bipartisan group of Attorneys General to take on major American pharmaceutical manufacturers--and he's gone after CEOs like the Sackler Family of Purdue Pharma for their role in perpetuating this crisis. Source: 2021 PA Gubernatorial campaign website JoshShapiro.org , Oct 15, 2021

Supports legalization, expunging non-violent convictions

Attorney General Josh Shapiro tweeted his support for legalization on one condition. "We must simultaneously expunge the records of those serving time for non-violent marijuana convictions--and that is non-negotiable," Shapiro wrote. Source: Philly Voice on 2022 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial race , Sep 28, 2021

After research I support legalizing recreational marijuana

Pennsylvania's top law enforcement officer is joining several other top state Democratic officials in backing the legalization of marijuana for recreational use by adults. Attorney General Josh Shapiro said that he changed his mind after months of internal research and discussions with law enforcement colleagues. "Continuing to criminalize adult personal marijuana use is a waste of limited law enforcement resources, it disproportionately impacts our minority communities and it does not make us safer. We must also expunge records of those with non-violent marijuana use convictions," Shapiro said.

Shapiro's announcement comes two days after Gov. Tom Wolf made a similar announcement that he supports it. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, both Democrats, have long supported the idea, too. However, leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature have pushed back forcefully and said they oppose it.

Source: CBS News on 2024 Vice Presidential hopefuls , Sep 27, 2019

Stopped the Fox drug ring from pushing their poisons

Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced the break-up of a drug ring that sold $1 million in heroin and crack cocaine in Wilkes Barre and Luzerne County over the last year. Fourteen people were charged with drug dealing in a law enforcement investigation called "Operation Outfoxed."

"The Fox drug ring sold more than $1 million in heroin and crack cocaine in Luzerne County," Shapiro said. "They were selling $3,000 worth of drugs every day for more than a year--pushing their poisons into Wilkes Barre. The people of Luzerne County are fed up with this epidemic. We hear you, and we're taking action. Today we shut down the Fox drug ring."

Collaborating with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, the Office of Attorney General obtained court approval for a wiretap on the cohort of drug dealers. The surveillance obtained evidence of drug sales and planned trips to New York City to re-stock their supply of heroin and crack cocaine for sale in Wilkes Barre.

Source: PA Attorney General press release "Drug Ring" , Aug 11, 2017

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[Title7]	*Gubernatorial Debates 2023:* KY: Incumbent Andy Beshear(D) vs.State A.G. Daniel Cameron(R) vs.Ambassador Kelly Craft(R) vs.State Auditor Mike Harmon(R) LA: Incumbent John Bel Edwards(D,term-limited) vs.Jeff Landry(R) vs.Shawn Wilson(D) vs.John Schroder(R) vs.Sharon Hewitt(R) MS: Incumbent Tate Reeves(R) vs.Bill Waller(R,withdrew) vs.Brandon Presley(D) *Gubernatorial Debates 2024:* DE: Gov. John Carney (D, term-limited); vs. Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long (D) vs. County Exec. Matt Meyer (D) vs. State Rep.Mike Ramone (R) IN: Gov. Eric Holcomb (R, term-limited); vs. Sen. Mike Braun (R) vs. Suzanne Crouch (R, lost May 7 primary) vs. Eric Doden (R, lost May 7 primary) vs. Attorney General Curtis Hill (R, lost May 7 primary) vs. Jennifer McCormick (D) MO: Gov. Mike Parson (R, term-limited): vs. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) vs. State Senator Bill Eigel (R) vs. Lt.Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) vs. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D) MT: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) vs. Ryan Busse (D) vs. State Rep. Tanner Smith (R, lost June 4 primary)	*Gubernatorial Debates 2024 (continued):* NC: Gov. Roy Cooper (D, term-limited); vs. Lt.Gov. Mark Robinson (R) vs. Attorney General Josh Stein (D) vs. Treasurer Dale Folwell (R, lost March 5 primary) vs. Justice Michael Morgan (D, lost March 5 primary) vs. State Senator Andy Wells (R,withdrew) ND: Gov. Doug Burgum (R, retiring) vs. State Rep. Rick Becker (R) vs. U.S.Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R) vs. State Sen.Merrill Piepkorn (D) NH: Gov. Chris Sununu (R, retiring) vs. U.S.Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) vs. Mayor Joyce Craig (D) vs. Acting Gov.Chuck Morse (R) vs. Exec.Councilor Cinde Warmington (D) UT: Gov. Spencer Cox (R) vs. State Rep. Phil Lyman (R) vs. Minority Leader Brian King (D) VT: Gov. Phil Scott (R) vs. Lt.Gov.David Zuckerman (D, withdrew) vs. Selectman Peter Duval (D) vs. Commissioner Esther Charlestin (D) WA: Gov. Jay Inslee (D, retiring); vs. Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) vs. U.S.Rep.Dave Reichert (R) vs. State Sen. Mark Mullet (D) vs. County Chair Semi Bird (R) vs. Hilary Franz (D, withdrew to run for U.S.Rep.) WV: Gov. Jim Justice (R, term-limited) vs. WV Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) vs. Huntington Mayor Steve Williams (D) vs. WV State Auditor JB McCuskey (R, withdrew) vs. WV Secretary of State Mac Warner (R, lost May 14 primary) vs. State Del. Moore Capito (R, lost May 14 primary)	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Local Issues Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty [Title9]