Roy Cooper on Drugs

	Roy Cooper on Drugs

Rated B by NORML: decriminalize medical marijuana

NORML Politician Info:

Candidate: Roy Cooper (D-NC)
Holds office Governor
Summary: DECRIMINALIZE/MEDICAL USE
Position on Marijuana Legalization:
Gov. Cooper told WXII news he did not think the time was right for the state to consider legalized recreational pot. (2/1/18)
According to the 2016 Nonpartisan Candidate Guide, on the question of whether or not to legalize marijuana, Cooper expressed the desire "to move slowly and study the impact in states that have legalized it." (10/31/16)
NC Governor looking into the legality of pardons for simple marijuana charges: "North Carolina should take steps to end this stigma," Cooper said. "Simple possession of a small amount of marijuana should not be a crime."
Position on Medical Marijuana (The Outer Banks Voice 7/12/2021): An email from a spokesperson for Cooper seemed to position the governor as a clear supporter of legalizing medical marijuana.

Source: NORML "Smoke the Vote" on 2024 North Carolina Governor race , Aug 8, 2024

Launched state's first Opioid Action Plan in 2017

In addition to being appointed by the President to serve on his Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, I've worked with the legislature across party lines. We launched the state's first Opioid Action Plan in 2017 and opioid prescriptions have dropped by 24%, emergency room visits for opioid misuse have declined by 10% and opioid related deaths have decreased by 5%. Source: Raleigh News-Observer on 2020 North Carolina Governor race , Mar 2, 2020

Opposes legalization of marijuana

WHERE DOES NORTH CAROLINA'S GOVERNOR STAND?

Told a local news outlet he doesn't believe the time is right to legalize cannabis. (2018)

Source: Cannabis Voter Project report on 2020 candidates , Jul 2, 2019

Eliminate stigma & encourage opioid addicts to get treatment

One of the most frightening developments in our country and state is the opioid and substance abuse crisis. It threatens lives, rips apart families and can create a shortage of qualified workers.

In my hometown of Nashville, North Carolina, Police Chief Tom Bashore is working to combat this addiction crisis. Last February, Chief Bashore and the Nashville Police Department launched the "Hope Initiative," the first program in North Carolina encouraging opioid addicts to walk into a police station seeking treatment without fear of arrest.

Recognizing that addiction is a disease, Chief Bashore has engaged with the community to eliminate the stigma surrounding opioid addiction and encourage addicts to seek treatment.

My budget directs mental health and law enforcement funding in a multi-pronged approach to combat the substance abuse crisis. This is an area where we must find common ground to help our friends and neighbors gripped by addiction.

Source: 2017 North Carolina State of the State address , Mar 13, 2017

Tackle meth labs by restricting key ingredients

In his introduction of Cooper, N.C. Rep. Larry Bell credited the attorney general's accomplishments over the years. Among them, Cooper has helped increase DNA testing of crime scene evidence, started a computer forensics unit to hunt child predators and launched a site to track such offenders. In order to tackle the issue of meth labs in recent years, Cooper made it tougher for criminals to get the drug's key ingredient and helped make punishment more stringent for meth makers. Source: 2016 gubernatorial campaign website, RoyCooper.com , Jun 17, 2015

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*Other governors on Drugs:*			*Roy Cooper on other issues:*
*NC Gubernatorial:* Andy Wells Dale Folwell Josh Stein Mark Robinson Michael Morgan *NC Senatorial:* Cal Cunningham Cheri Beasley Eric Mansfield Erica Smith Garland Tucker Jeff Jackson Marjorie K. Eastman Mark Walker Pat McCrory Rett Newton Sandy Smith Ted Budd Thom Tillis	*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]