State of Rhode Island Archives: on Drugs

Bob Flanders: Enhance treatment & recovery services; and public engagement

Addiction is not a partisan issue. As Rhode Island's U.S. Senator, I will work with state officials and all stakeholders to enact a no-nonsense plan to subdue the nation's opioid epidemic. My five-point plan includes the following:

[Allow] the DEA to pursue Big Pharma and wholesalers who are flooding the market with these addictive drugs.
Save lives by enhancing treatment and recovery services to ensure that first responders and emergency rooms have adequate supplies of medicine that can save the lives of people who overdosed on opioids.
Provide resources for cutting-edge research and addiction management to advance procedures for pain management and mandate that medical and pharmacy students receive training in preventing opioid misuse.
Promote an aggressive public-engagement campaign to enhance the understanding and awareness about opioid use.

If we are to defeat the opioid epidemic, Congress must fund use-prevention, treatment, and enforcement programs at scale. Source: 2018 R.I. Senate campaign website FlandersForSenate.com Nov 1, 2018

Carl Sheeler: Decriminalize marijuana possession

Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
Sheeler adds, “The real costs of repeat offenders & recidivism versus the publics safety requires a balance of compassion and firm penalties. Alcohol, cigarettes, & marijuana are similar in risk.

Source: 2004 R.I. Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test Nov 7, 2004

Mark Zaccaria: Mandatory prison sentences for selling illegal drugs

Q: Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related training and job-placement assistance when released?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with substance abuse treatment?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support reduced prison sentences for non-violent offenders?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you support mandatory prison sentences for selling illegal drugs?

A: Yes.

Source: R.I. Congressional 2010 PVS Political Courage Test Nov 1, 2010

The above quotations are from State of Rhode Island Politicians: Archives. Click here for definitions & background information on Drugs. Click here for other issues (main summary page).
*2024 Presidential contenders on Drugs:*
	*Candidates for President & Vice-President:* V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA) Chase Oliver(L-GA) Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA) Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL) Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH) Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN) Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ)	*2024 presidential primary contenders:* Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE) N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R) N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R) Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R) S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R) Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R) Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN) U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN) Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH) S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
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Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026