State of South Carolina Archives: on Drugs
Alvin Greene:
No mandatory drug sentences
Q: Do you support mandatory prison sentences for selling illegal drugs? A: No.
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.
Source: S.C. Congressional Election 2010 Political Courage Test
Oct 1, 2010
Henry McMaster:
Operation Jackpot: keep drugs off the streets
- 2007: Led largest meth bust in state history : Coordinated with the Greenville County Sheriff's office and conducted the largest methamphetamine bust and prosecution in state history.
- 2010: Created a partnership to stop
terrorists and traffickers : In conjunction with the South Carolina National Guard and law enforcement launched an effort to stop the financing of international terrorism through proceeds from human trafficking and the sale of narcotics here in
South Carolina.
- 1983: Launched Operation "Jackpot": As United States Attorney, he launched "Operation Jackpot," the interdisciplinary financial investigation into international drug
smuggling, producing over 100 convictions and keeping drugs off the streets of South Carolina.
Source: 2010 S.C. Gubernatorial campaign website HenryMcMaster.com
Jan 11, 2017
James Emerson Smith:
Support the fight against drug addiction with resources
Heroin and opioid pain reliever overdoses in South Carolina outnumbered homicides in 2016. Addiction is a disease and we must support South Carolinians in recovery as we tackle the roots of this public health crisis.
James will make special resources available to address the opioid crisis. This includes improving access to treatment and recovery resources, promoting non-opioid treatment options and use of overdose-reversing drugs.
Source: 2018 S.C. gubernatorial candidate website JamesSmith.com
May 2, 2018
Joe Biden:
Drugs don't cause mental health issues; it's the reverse
Social workers and school psychologists can pick up the early signs of distress among students. Generation Z, as you know, is the most--has the greatest anxiety of any generation in the country, for the first time in American history.
We're in a situation where we have now learned that, for example, drug abuse doesn't cause mental health problems. Mental health problems cause drug abuse.
Source: CNN S.C. Town Hall amid 2020 primaries
Mar 27, 2020
Mike Bloomberg:
Decriminalize possession, but wait on pot & kids
Q: You have called marijuana another addictive drug that we've never done research on.BLOOMBERG: Look, the first thing you do is we should not make this a criminal thing if you have a small amount. For dealers, yes, but for the average person, no,
and you should expunge the records of those that got caught up in this before. Number two, we're not going to take it away from states that have already done it. But, number three, you should listen to the scientists and the doctors.
They say go very slowly. They haven't done enough research. And the evidence so far is worrisome, before we get all our kids, particularly kids in their late teens, boys even more than girls, where this may be damaging their brains.
Until we know the science, it's just nonsensical to push ahead. But the cat's out of the bag. So some states have it, you're not going to take it away. Get rid of the--decriminalize the possession.
Source: 10th Democratic Primary debate on eve of S.C. primary
Feb 25, 2020
Thomas Ravenel:
Mexican border problems come from failed War on Drugs
With respect to the current borders crossings by Mexican youth, let me say this: The effects of our disastrous drug policy are now spilling over onto U.S. soil. As Ron Paul has said, this problem is a direct result of our failed 'War on Drugs', which by
one estimate puts $300 billion per year into the hands of the most violent criminals on the face of the earth. On the other side, we give the Mexican government money to wage war with the drug cartels--and now children are being killed in the crossfire.
Many Mexican policemen are given the choice between "plata o plomo," which means "silver or lead." In other words they can either accept hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes--or they can refuse and be killed or
have a member of their family killed. And speaking of killing--who can forget the U.S. Justice Department's botched gun-running operation--"Fast and Furious?"
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, RavenelForSenate.com
Sep 1, 2014
Jermaine Johnson:
Legalize medical marijuana; referendum on recreational use
It's time for South Carolina to make medicinal marijuana safe, legal, and accessible. This means more jobs and income for farmers, a state wide tax on cannabis that will allow us to balance the budget, and medical freedom for people who are suffering.
Additionally, Jermaine will commute the sentence of all prisoners who have non-violent marijuana related charges. Finally, Jermaine will put recreational cannabis to a state-wide referendum.
Source: 2026 S.C. Gubernatorial campaign website JohnsonForSC.com
Jan 6, 2026
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026