State of Missouri Archives: on Drugs
Angelica Earl:
End marijuana prohibition
We can help combat the opioid epidemic with Medical Marijuana. States that have ended marijuana prohibition have seen a 25% decrease in opioid overdose deaths. After years of work with Greater St. Louis
NORML, talking to people about why they use it and how it affects them, and knowing people that have experienced violence while trying to purchase their medicine, it's time for us to unite in the push to end marijuana prohibition!
Source: 2018 Missouri Senatorial website AngelicaForMissouri.com
Sep 15, 2017
Austin Petersen:
Treat drugs as medical issue, not criminal
This war on drugs is a war on American citizens. It's costly, and it creates more violence on the border. We're destroying people's lives--we should be treating drug abuse as a medical problem, not a criminal problem.
Drugs are dangerous in part because they're created on the black market. We must be compassionate towards those who are suffering with chemical dependencies, and let them come into the light and seek treatment and help.
Source: 2018 Missouri Senatorial website AustinPetersen.com
Oct 1, 2017
Austin Petersen:
My ideal: gay couple defends pot farm with machine gun
Petersen said he believes strongly in expanding this right to expression for everyone. He said he strongly supports the First Amendment and Second Amendment and said his ideal
was gay married couples having the right to defend their marijuana farms with fully automatic machine guns.
Source: Southeast Arrow on 2018 Missouri Senatorial race
Nov 17, 2017
Catherine Hanaway:
Stricter penalties for drug crimes, but rehab too
Hanaway indicated support for the following principles concerning drugs:- Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- Increase state funds for programs which rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after
their prison sentences.
- Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
- Strengthen penalties and sentences for sex offenders.
- Further increase penalties for convicted methamphetamine dealers and producers.
Source: Missouri Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
Catherine Hanaway:
Strengthen sentences for drug-related crimes
Hanaway indicates support of the following principles to address crime.- Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
- Strengthen penalties and sentences for sex offenders.
-
Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious violent crimes as adults.
- Further increase penalties for convicted methamphetamine dealers and producers.
- Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
Source: Missouri Legislative 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
Chris Koster:
Helping meth cooks get ingredients leads to jail
Chris Koster announced the creation of a campaign to inform purchasers of pseudoephedrine-based cold and allergy medicines that purchasing the drugs for meth cooks is
illegal. "Missouri leaders are coming together... to send an unmistakable message: If you're buying this product for a meth cook, you are committing a serious criminal offense and could end up behind bars."
Source: Kansas City Star on 2016 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Mar 13, 2013
Claire McCaskill:
Supports medical marijuana & alternative drug sentencing
Q: Legalize or decriminalize marijuana.Josh Hawley (R): "Inclined" to support medical marijuana in initiative.
Claire McCaskill (D): Supports medical marijuana, alternatives to prison for nonviolent drug offenders, "might support" recreational marijuana.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Eric Greitens:
Supports legalizing medical marijuana for kids with epilepsy
Q: "Why is alcohol and packing firearms legal when recreational marijuana is not, given the potential for medical benefits and tax revenues?"
A: Greitens said, "It is simple, there is no stoned path to prosperity." On medical marijuana he said Missouri must be a compassionate state and help children with epilepsy.
Source: KOMU.com on 2016 Missouri gubernatorial race
Mar 18, 2016
Jason Kander:
Drug testing for welfare recipients
Excerpts from Missouri Legislative archives:- 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, 7/12/2011. (Jason Kander voted YEA).
Source: Missouri legislative voting records: HB 73
Apr 28, 2011
Jason Kander:
Supports medical marijuana
Q: On Marijuana: Decriminalize and/or legalize marijuana? Blunt: No, but voted against federal interference with medical marijuana states.
Kander: Supports medical marijuana. No clear position on recreational.
Source: CampusElect Voter Guide to 2016 Missouri Senate race
Oct 9, 2016
Jay Nixon:
Drug testing for welfare recipients
Excerpts from Missouri Legislative archives:- 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.
Source: Missouri legislative voting records: HB 73
Jul 12, 2011
Jim Neely:
Legalize medical marijuana for debilitating diseases
for ballot initiatives that would legalize, regulate and tax medical marijuana in a variety of ways. The House bill, approved in a 112-44 vote, would allow anyone over 18 with a terminal disease to access smokeless marijuana. People with
Alzheimer's, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder and several other "debilitating medical conditions" would also be eligible. Missouri would be the 30th state to legalize medical marijuana. Proponents said the change could help ease suffering.
Source: Columbia Daily Tribune on Missouri legislative voting record
May 1, 2019
Jim Neely:
Opposes raising age for vaping from 18 to 21
One candidate criticized his opponent's proposal to raise the age for vaping from 18 to 21. Neely decried Nicole Galloway's recently-announced vaping plan as "a slap in the face to young Veterans across Missouri." "I tend to think that anyone old enough
to serve in the military should be allowed to make their own health decisions," said Dr. Neely. "Part of the reason that we all served is to protect the freedoms we have in the United States."
Source: 2020 Missouri Governor campaign website NeelyForMissouri.com
Jan 21, 2020
Jim Neely:
Supports medical marijuana
He's hoping that taking on the role of governor will help him solve some of the issues, especially in health care, that have dragged on throughout his time there. They include trying to reduce the tax on feminine hygiene products and chipping away at
the millions paid to managed care companies that supplement Medicaid. He has also introduced legislation that would legalize medical marijuana.
Source: Kansas City Star on 2020 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Aug 29, 2019
John Brunner:
Open to more research about marijuana, nut not legalization
Q: Why is alcohol and packing firearms legal when recreational marijuana is not, given the potential for medical benefits and tax revenues?A: Brunner was the first to answer, saying he is against the legalization of marijuana.
He said he is open to more research about potential medical benefits. He also said he thinks there are other ways to grow the economy that do not involve the possible tax revenues generated legalizing marijuana.
Source: KOMU.com on 2016 Missouri gubernatorial race
Mar 18, 2016
Josh Hawley:
Charges opioid manufacturers with deception
Missouri AG Josh Hawley filed a lawsuit against 3 of the largest manufacturers of opioids, accusing the companies of violating Missouri's consumer protection laws. The complaint, which was filed in St. Louis, calls opioid abuse an epidemic in
Missouri that is a "direct result of a carefully crafted campaign of deception" by the pharmaceutical companies that "fraudulently misrepresented the risks posed by the drugs that they manufacture and sell, misleading both doctors and consumers."
Source: Kansas City Star on 2018 Missouri Senate race
Jun 12, 2017
Josh Hawley:
Supports medical marijuana
Q: Legalize or decriminalize marijuana.Josh Hawley (R): "Inclined" to support medical marijuana in initiative.
Claire McCaskill (D): Supports medical marijuana, alternatives to prison for nonviolent drug offenders, "might support" recreational marijuana.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Missouri Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Lester Turilli:
Opium is a dangerous epidemic
Q: Your comments on the statement, "Marijuana is a gateway drug"? A: A dangerous epidemic our state faces is opium Its use is growing dually through prescription drug abuse and in the ready availability of heroin.
Missouri is one of the last states without a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. PDMP's are exceedingly efficient tools utilized by government officials for reducing prescription drug abuse and diversion.
I advocate a limited PDMP to target only narcotic drugs with a special emphasis on their administration by emergency rooms and clinics.
Although Marijuana cannot be linked directly to heroin usage, almost all heroin users admit to first being a Marijuana user.
Source: Email interview on 2016 Missouri candidacy by OnTheIssues
Apr 25, 2016
Mike Parson:
Rate of opioid deaths decreasing but new ideas are needed
While the 2017 numbers of opioid related deaths increased from the 2016 numbers, the rate of increase in opioid deaths was reduced compared to the previous year. From 2015 to 2016 there was a 35% increase in opioid- or heroin-related deaths,
but the 2016 to 2017 numbers increased by only 4.7%. Missouri is suffering through an opioid abuse crisis. "We must continue our efforts to find innovative solutions to combat and curb opioid abuse," said Governor Mike Parson.
Source: 2018 Missouri Governor office press release health.MO.gov
Jun 27, 2018
Mike Parson:
Supports prescription database as tool to fight opioid abuse
Parson thinks the state is "long overdue" for a prescription-monitoring database for doctors. Missouri remains the only state without such a database, which proponents say helps cut down on opioids being sold on the street. "Not to be able to give
these men and women behind me the opportunity to try to fix this problem or to fight crime" is setting back the fight against opioids, Parson said. "We know this is a serious problem, and we've got to give them every opportunity we can," he said.
Source: St. Louis Public Radio on 2020 Missouri gubernatorial race
Dec 5, 2018
Mike Parson:
Against marijuana legalization, OK with medical use
Q: Should state legalize marijuana?Mike Parson: No. Does not favor recreational legalization. OK with medical use. Criticism about clients of a close ally being favored in securing medical licenses.
Nicole Galloway: Yes. Supports legalization that includes expunging criminal records.
Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2020
Nicole Galloway:
Supports legalization, expunging criminal records
Q: Should state legalize marijuana?Nicole Galloway: Yes. Supports legalization that includes expunging criminal records.
Mike Parson: No. Does not favor recreational legalization. OK with medical use. Criticism about clients of a close ally being favored in securing medical licenses.
Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2020
Peter Kinder:
Supports legalizing medical marijuana under a doctor's order
Q: Why is alcohol and packing firearms legal when recreational marijuana is not, given the potential for medical benefits and tax revenues?
A: Kinder supports legalizing medical marijuana when it is under a doctor's order for terminally ill patients. He said he is not for legalization for recreation uses.
Source: KOMU.com on 2016 Missouri gubernatorial race
Mar 18, 2016
Roy Blunt:
Don't decriminalize marijuana federally, but let states try
Q: On Marijuana: Decriminalize and/or legalize marijuana? Blunt: No, but voted against federal interference with medical marijuana states.
Kander: Supports medical marijuana. No clear position on recreational.
Source: CampusElect Voter Guide to 2016 Missouri Senate race
Oct 9, 2016
Samuel Graves:
Fund advertisements intended to reduce methamphetamine use
As part of the debate on the reauthorization of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Congresswoman Capito joined four of her colleagues in offering an amendment to improve awareness of the methamphetamine epidemic. Capito joined Rep.
Rehberg (MT), Rep. Boozman (AR), Rep. King (IA), & Rep. Graves (MO) in offering the amendment.The amendment ensures that no less than ten percent of the national media campaign funds will be expended on advertisements specifically intended to reduce
methamphetamine use. The Director of ONDCP will also have the authority to award grants to private entities producing research-based public service messages, with the goal of reducing first-time meth use among young people.
Said Capito, "We need to do
a better job of reaching out to young people and educating them about the dangers of meth before it's too late." The amendment was adopted this afternoon by the House of Representatives with the overall passage of the ONDCP reauthorization act.
Source: Vote-USA.org on 2010 Missouri MI-6 House incumbent
Oct 4, 2008
Steve King:
Fund advertisements intended to reduce methamphetamine use
As part of the debate on the reauthorization of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Congresswoman Capito joined four of her colleagues in offering an amendment to improve awareness of the methamphetamine epidemic. Capito joined Rep.
Rehberg (MT), Rep. Boozman (AR), Rep. King (IA), & Rep. Graves (MO) in offering the amendment.The amendment ensures that no less than ten percent of the national media campaign funds will be expended on advertisements specifically intended to reduce
methamphetamine use. The Director of ONDCP will also have the authority to award grants to private entities producing research-based public service messages, with the goal of reducing first-time meth use among young people.
Said Capito, "We need to do
a better job of reaching out to young people and educating them about the dangers of meth before it's too late." The amendment was adopted this afternoon by the House of Representatives with the overall passage of the ONDCP reauthorization act.
Source: Vote-USA.org on 2010 Missouri IA-4 House incumbent
Oct 4, 2008
Vicky Hartzler:
Allow Border Patrol to target drones smuggling drugs
?Her strong support for President Trump's border security efforts coupled with her work to secure his vision of a more robust and stronger military moved these issues in the Congress. She passed a law to protect our borders by allowing
Border Patrol agents to target drones used to smuggle drugs into American communities and backed President Trump's reforms to secure our southern border.
Source: 2021 Missouri Senate campaign website VickyHartzler.com
Jul 9, 2021
Trudy Busch Valentine:
Supports legal pot in MO; opposes it nationwide
Asked about the proposed constitutional amendment legalizing recreational marijuana that will appear on the Missouri ballot in November, both Valentine and Venable said they would oppose the federal government legalizing marijuana.
Valentine said she supports the amendment legalizing marijuana in Missouri because it keeps cannabis out of the hands of anyone under 21. "This is an important issue for me," Valentine said. "I had a son who died of an opioid overdose."
Source: St. Louis Public Radio on 2022 Missouri Senate race
Sep 17, 2022
Jay Ashcroft:
State constitution not the place to legalize marijuana
Ashcroft publicly announced his opposition to an adult-use cannabis ballot measure last week. The state's chief elections officer told KSDK News that he will vote "no" on Legal Missouri 2022's proposed constitutional amendment, listed as
Amendment 3 on the statewide ballot, in part because he believes there's a problem with the dichotomy between state and federal cannabis laws, and also because he thinks the current proposal would make too many changes to the state constitution.
Source: Cannabis Business Times on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Nov 1, 2022
Mike Kehoe:
Drug testing for welfare recipients
Excerpts from Missouri Legislative archives:- 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.
Legislative Outcome:Bill passed House, 113-34-13; passed Senate, 29-5-0; signed by Governor Nixon, 7/12/2011. (Mike Kehoe voted YEA).
Source: Missouri State Legislature voting records HB73
Apr 28, 2011
Crystal Quade:
Supports legalization, not state cap on business licenses
When she heard the news earlier this month that a proposed constitutional amendment legalizing marijuana would appear on the November ballot, she thought her job might have just gotten a little easier."I definitely think that it will bring out more
voters," Quade said of the marijuana proposal, which will appear on the ballot as Amendment 3. "It will bring out younger voters, and traditionally, younger voters tend to vote Democratic. So that is looking like good news for us."
But asked what she
thinks of the policy laid out in Amendment 3, Quade's enthusiasm dims. "I'm in support of legalization," she said. "I wish the initiative was better, but it is what we're given to work with right now." Quade has concerns about the expungement provisions
laid out in the amendment, as well as the fact that it will continue to allow the state to cap business licenses to grow and sell marijuana--a system she believes led to potential corruption in the medical marijuana program.
Source: Missouri Independent on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Aug 28, 2022
Josh Hawley:
Rated C- by NORML: marijuana is a gateway drug
NORML Politician Info: rated C- - Candidate: Josh Hawley (R - MO): Holds office U.S. Senate
- Summary: MEDICAL USE
- Comments: Senator Hawley said in a Fox4KC interview, "We now have a lot
of data on marijuana use because we've got years of it being studied. We've seen study after study show that as it builds up in the body, and it does tend to linger it appears over time that it has detrimental long term health effects.
It is a gateway drug. That is true." (September 2022)
- The state attorney general said last month that he was "inclined" to support one of the three medical cannabis legalization initiatives on the ballot, but he wanted to ensure that
certain "guardrails" were in place to ensure that the program exclusively serves patients. "I want to look closely at how the ballot language is structured," he said. (2018)
Source: NORML "Smoke the Vote" on 2024 Missouri Senate race
Aug 8, 2024
Karla May:
Rated A+ by NORML: legalize marijuana & hemp
NORML Politician Info: ratedA+ - Candidate: Karla May (D - MO): Holds office State Senate District 4
- Summary: LEGALIZE, TAX, AND REGULATE
- Legislation & Key Votes:
Introduced HB 1488 in 2018 to legalize adult use marijuana
- HB 830: Authorizes Cultivation of Industrial Hemp: voted YES
Source: NORML "Smoke the Vote" on 2024 Missouri Senate race
Aug 8, 2024
Mike Parson:
Rated C by NORML on marijuana reform
NORML Politician Info: rated C- Candidate: Mike Parson (R)
- NORML Summary: The Parson administration has overseen the establishment of the state's medical cannabis access program, which was approved
by voters in November 2018. Regulators have approved over 17,000 patients into the program, which is expected to become fully operational later this year.
Source: NORML "Smoke the Vote" on 2024 Missouri Gubernatorial race
Aug 8, 2024
Karla May:
Opposed drug testing for welfare recipients
Excerpts from Missouri Legislative archives: - 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.
Legislative Outcome: Bill passed House, 113-34-13; State Rep. Karla May voted NO; passed Senate, 29-5-0; signed by Governor.
Source: Missouri State Legislature voting records HB73
Apr 28, 2011
Mike Kehoe:
Charge fentanyl dealer with first degree murder if user dies
A shocking statistic that isn't talked about enough, is that fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. It has destroyed far too many lives and families.
We will tackle the fentanyl crisis in Missouri. If a drug dealer sells fentanyl that kills a Missourian, they should be charged with first degree murder. Period.
Source: 2025 State of the State Address to the Missouri legislature
Jan 28, 2025
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026