Janet Mills on Drugs

	Janet Mills on Drugs

Time to better regulate the market for medical cannabis

While we are talking about cannabis, I want to say that the time has come to better regulate the medical market with testing and tracking requirements so that those consumers--just like recreational users--can be confident that those products are safe. If you are ingesting cannabis for medical reasons, you should want to know that you are not consuming pesticides or other contaminants that are going to make your health worse. We cannot continue to encourage the wild wild west of medical cannabis. Source: 2025 State of the State Address to the Maine legislature , Jan 28, 2025

Expert in substance abuse for every child welfare district

The drug epidemic is jeopardizing the safety, security and welfare of our youngest children as well as our adults. Substance use disorder is identified as a risk factor in 53% of cases when a child is removed from the home. I am directing the Department of Health and Human Services to embed a clinical expert in substance use disorder in every child welfare district in Maine to better recognize the influence of substance use, to navigate the risks to children, and to steer parents into treatment. Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Maine legislature , Feb 14, 2023

Signed 2019 law for regulating adult-use marijuana market

"Nearly four years after Mainers approved marijuana legalization at the ballot box, the will of the people will finally be effectuated," said the Marijuana Policy Project Deputy Director, one of the leaders of the 2016 campaign. "The delays were unfortunate and unnecessary, but in the end we've succeeded in replacing prohibition with a thoughtful policy that legalizes, regulates, and taxes marijuana sales for adults 21 and over," the MPP Director added.

Marijuana has been legal for adults 21 and older to grow and share since January 30, 2017. Legislation to establish rules and implement a regulated adult-use marijuana market was signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills on June 27, 2019.

Eleven states have legalized marijuana for adults 21 and over. The Marijuana Policy Project spearheaded the successful Yes on 1 legalization campaign in Maine and played a central role in the coalitions that passed initiatives to legalize and regulate marijuana in CO, AK, MA, MI, and NV.

Source: MPP.org press release on Maine voting record "Yes on 1" , Oct 8, 2020

Legalize recreational marijuana and bring in millions

Marijuana: Support ME's 2016 ballot initiative that legalized recreational marijuana use?

Mills: Yes. Properly implemented, could "bring millions into our state economy, create jobs, and end unjust & costly war on drugs."

Moody: Opposes, part of corrupt initiative process that led him to run for office. Can't test impairment, so legalization is a liability for employers.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Maine Governor race , Nov 1, 2018

Investigate role of opioid manufacturers in drug abuse

Mills said the coalition is investigating what role opioid manufacturers may have played in creating or prolonging the drug epidemic. "We need to get the genie back in the pill bottle; our society is awash in pills and it is killing us." She went on to say that the vast majority of people arrested for possession of heroin or fentanyl tell authorities that their substance abuse disorder began with painkiller prescriptions. Source: Press Herald on 2018 Maine Gubernatorial race , Oct 15, 2017

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*Other governors on Drugs:*			*Janet Mills on other issues:*
*ME Gubernatorial:* Angus King Paul LePage *ME Senatorial:* Angus King Betsy Sweet David Costello Demi Kouzounas Sara Gideon Susan Rice	*Gubernatorial races 2025:* *New Jersey Governor:* Democratic primary June 10, 2025: Ras Baraka, Mayor of Newark (2014-present) Steven Fulop, Mayor of Jersey City (2013-present) Josh Gottheimer, U.S. Rep. NJ-5 (since 2017) Mikie Sherrill, U.S. Rep. NJ-11 (since 2019); elected Nov. 4. Stephen Sweeney, N.J.Senate President (2010-2022) Republican primary June 10, 2025: Jon Bramnick, State Senator (since 2022); Minority Leader (2012-2022) Jack Ciattarelli, State Assemblyman (2011-2018), governor nominee (2021 & 2025); lost general election Edward Durr, State Senator 3rd district (2022-2024); withdrew *Virginia Governor:* Democratic primary June 17 cancelled: Abigail Spanberger, U.S.Rep., VA-7 (2019-2024); Dem. nominee 2025; elected Nov. 4. Levar Stoney, VA Secretary of the Commonwealth (2014-2016); (withdrew to run for Lt. Gov.) Republican primary June 17 cancelled: Winsome Earle-Sears, Lt. Gov. since 2022; GOP nominee 2025; lost general election Amanda Chase, State Senate District 11 (2016-2023); failed to make ballot Denver Riggleman, U.S.Rep. (R-VA-5); exploratory committee as Independent Glenn Youngkin, Incumbent Governor , (2022-2025), term-limited	*Mayoral races 2025:* *NYC Mayor Democratic primary June 24, 2025:* Adrienne Adams, speaker of the City Council Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York, 2011-2021 (Independent candidate). Zohran Mamdani, New York State Assembly, 2021-2025 (Democratic nominee); elected Nov. 4. Republican June 24 primary cancelled; general election Nov. 4: Eric Adams, incumbent Democratic mayor running as an independent Jim Walden, Independent; Former assistant U.S. Attorney Curtis Sliwa, Republican nominee; CEO of the Guardian Angels *Jersey City Mayor (Non-partisan)* Non-partisan general election Nov. 4; runoff Dec. 2: Mussab Ali, former president of the Jersey City Board of Education Steven Fulop, outgoing Mayor (2013-2025) Bill O'Dea, Hudson County commissioner (since 1997) Jim McGreevey, former N.J. Governor (2002-2004) James Solomon, city councilor (since 2017) Joyce Watterman, president of the Jersey City Council (since 2023) *Oakland CA Mayor* Non-partisan special election April 14, 2025: Barbara Lee, U.S.Rep CA-12 (1998-2025) Loren Taylor, Oakland City Council (2019-2023), lost general election Sheng Thao, Oakland Mayor, lost recall election Nov. 5, 2024	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]