Jay Nixon on Drugs Missouri Democratic Governor

Drug testing for welfare recipients

• Requires certain applicants for and recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program benefits to be tested for illegal drug use and the benefit card to include a photo of the recipient or payee.
• The department of social services shall develop a program to screen and test each work-eligible applicant or recipient, who the department has reasonable cause to believe, based on the screening, engages in illegal use of controlled substances.
• Anyone who is found to have tested positive shall be declared ineligible for TANF benefits for a period of one year.
• The department shall refer anyone who tested positive to an appropriate substance abuse treatment program.
• Other members of a household shall continue to receive TANF benefits.

Status:Bill passed House, 113-34-13; passed Senate, 29-5-0; signed by Governor Nixon, July 12, 2011.

Mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs

Nixon indicates support of the following principles concerning illegal drugs.
• Increase penalties for selling illegal drugs.
• Impose mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
• Impose capital punishment for convicted international drug traffickers.
• Strengthen current laws dealing with non-controlled substances, including inhalants and commercially available pills.
• Increase funding of federally-sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs.

Rated B- by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance.

OnTheIssues.org interprets the 2016 NORML scores as follows:

• C-/D/F: "hard-on-drugs" stance (approx. 243 members)
• C: mixed record on drug reform (approx. 45 members)
• A/B: pro-drug-reform stance (approx. 293 members)

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law's mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to achieve the repeal of marijuana prohibition so that the responsible use of cannabis by adults is no longer subject to penalty.

NORML is a nonprofit, public-interest lobby that for more than 30 years has provided a voice for those Americans who oppose marijuana prohibition. We represent the interests of the tens of millions of Americans who smoke marijuana responsibly and believe the recreational and medicinal use of marijuana should no longer be a crime.

NORML supports the removal of all criminal penalties for the private possession & responsible use of marijuana by adults, including the cultivation for personal use, and the casual nonprofit transfers of small amounts. This model is called "decriminalization."

NORML additionally supports the development of a legally controlled market for marijuana, where consumers could purchase it from a safe, legal and regulated source. This model is referred to as "legalization."

NORML believes that marijuana smoking is not for kids and should only be used responsibly by adults. As with alcohol consumption, it must never be an excuse for misconduct or other bad behavior. Driving or operating heavy equipment while impaired from marijuana should be prohibited.

NORML strongly supports the right of patients to use marijuana as a medicine when their physician recommends it to relieve pain and suffering.

Lastly, NORML supports the right of farmers to commercially cultivate hemp for industrial purposes, such as food and fiber production.