Josh Shapiro on Drugs

	Josh Shapiro on Drugs

Legalized cannabis will bring in $1.3 billion in new revenue

We're losing out on an industry that, over the first five years, will bring in $1.3 billion in new revenue to our Commonwealth. I ask you to come together and send to my desk a bill that legalizes adult-use cannabis and expunges the records of people who have been convicted for nonviolent possession of small amounts of marijuana. A bill that sets reasonable regulations, protects public safety, and gives communities that suffered from the criminalization of cannabis an opportunity to succeed. Source: 2025 State of the State Address to Pennsylvania legislature , Feb 4, 2025

Understand that drug addiction is a disease, not a crime

First, we have to understand that drug addiction is a disease, not a crime. Now, we have to invest in law enforcement. And I have. We've increased the number of state troopers by 400 and I'm looking to add another 400. As attorney general, I arrested over 8,000 drug dealers. So, we're not going soft on those who are peddling these poisons in our community. But we also have to make sure that treatment is available. Source: CBS Face the Nation on 2024 Democratic Veepstakes , Apr 21, 2024

It's time to catch up, legalize, regulate and tax marijuana

Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland--practically all of our neighbors--have legalized marijuana. We're losing out on an industry that, once fully implemented, would bring in more than 250 million dollars in annual revenue. It's time to catch up. I ask you to come together and send to my desk a bill that legalizes marijuana. But that bill should ensure the industry is regulated and taxed responsibly. Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the PA legislature , Feb 6, 2024

Has taken on Pharma over opioid epidemic

Josh is fighting our country's opioid epidemic, leading a bipartisan group of Attorneys General to take on major American pharmaceutical manufacturers--and he's gone after CEOs like the Sackler Family of Purdue Pharma for their role in perpetuating this crisis. Source: 2021 PA Gubernatorial campaign website JoshShapiro.org , Oct 15, 2021

Supports legalization, expunging non-violent convictions

Attorney General Josh Shapiro tweeted his support for legalization on one condition. "We must simultaneously expunge the records of those serving time for non-violent marijuana convictions--and that is non-negotiable," Shapiro wrote. Source: Philly Voice on 2022 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial race , Sep 28, 2021

After research I support legalizing recreational marijuana

Pennsylvania's top law enforcement officer is joining several other top state Democratic officials in backing the legalization of marijuana for recreational use by adults. Attorney General Josh Shapiro said that he changed his mind after months of internal research and discussions with law enforcement colleagues. "Continuing to criminalize adult personal marijuana use is a waste of limited law enforcement resources, it disproportionately impacts our minority communities and it does not make us safer. We must also expunge records of those with non-violent marijuana use convictions," Shapiro said.

Shapiro's announcement comes two days after Gov. Tom Wolf made a similar announcement that he supports it. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, both Democrats, have long supported the idea, too. However, leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature have pushed back forcefully and said they oppose it.

Source: CBS News on 2024 Vice Presidential hopefuls , Sep 27, 2019

Stopped the Fox drug ring from pushing their poisons

Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced the break-up of a drug ring that sold $1 million in heroin and crack cocaine in Wilkes Barre and Luzerne County over the last year. Fourteen people were charged with drug dealing in a law enforcement investigation called "Operation Outfoxed."

"The Fox drug ring sold more than $1 million in heroin and crack cocaine in Luzerne County," Shapiro said. "They were selling $3,000 worth of drugs every day for more than a year--pushing their poisons into Wilkes Barre. The people of Luzerne County are fed up with this epidemic. We hear you, and we're taking action. Today we shut down the Fox drug ring."

Collaborating with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, the Office of Attorney General obtained court approval for a wiretap on the cohort of drug dealers. The surveillance obtained evidence of drug sales and planned trips to New York City to re-stock their supply of heroin and crack cocaine for sale in Wilkes Barre.

Source: PA Attorney General press release "Drug Ring" , Aug 11, 2017

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*Other governors on Drugs:*			*Josh Shapiro on other issues:*
*PA Gubernatorial:* Doug Mastriano Joe Gale Melissa Hart Scott Martin William McSwain *PA Senatorial:* Bob Casey Carla Sands Conor Lamb Craig Snyder David McCormick Everett Stern Jeff Bartos John Fetterman Kathy Barnette Malcolm Kenyatta Mehmet Oz Sean Parnell Sharif Street Val Arkoosh	*Gubernatorial races 2025:* *New Jersey Governor:* Democratic primary June 10, 2025: Ras Baraka, Mayor of Newark (2014-present) Steven Fulop, Mayor of Jersey City (2013-present) Josh Gottheimer, U.S. Rep. NJ-5 (since 2017) Mikie Sherrill, U.S. Rep. NJ-11 (since 2019); elected Nov. 4. Stephen Sweeney, N.J.Senate President (2010-2022) Republican primary June 10, 2025: Jon Bramnick, State Senator (since 2022); Minority Leader (2012-2022) Jack Ciattarelli, State Assemblyman (2011-2018), governor nominee (2021 & 2025); lost general election Edward Durr, State Senator 3rd district (2022-2024); withdrew *Virginia Governor:* Democratic primary June 17 cancelled: Abigail Spanberger, U.S.Rep., VA-7 (2019-2024); Dem. nominee 2025; elected Nov. 4. Levar Stoney, VA Secretary of the Commonwealth (2014-2016); (withdrew to run for Lt. Gov.) Republican primary June 17 cancelled: Winsome Earle-Sears, Lt. Gov. since 2022; GOP nominee 2025; lost general election Amanda Chase, State Senate District 11 (2016-2023); failed to make ballot Denver Riggleman, U.S.Rep. (R-VA-5); exploratory committee as Independent Glenn Youngkin, Incumbent Governor , (2022-2025), term-limited	*Mayoral races 2025:* *NYC Mayor Democratic primary June 24, 2025:* Adrienne Adams, speaker of the City Council Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York, 2011-2021 (Independent candidate). Zohran Mamdani, New York State Assembly, 2021-2025 (Democratic nominee); elected Nov. 4. Republican June 24 primary cancelled; general election Nov. 4: Eric Adams, incumbent Democratic mayor running as an independent Jim Walden, Independent; Former assistant U.S. Attorney Curtis Sliwa, Republican nominee; CEO of the Guardian Angels *Jersey City Mayor (Non-partisan)* Non-partisan general election Nov. 4; runoff Dec. 2: Mussab Ali, former president of the Jersey City Board of Education Steven Fulop, outgoing Mayor (2013-2025) Bill O'Dea, Hudson County commissioner (since 1997) Jim McGreevey, former N.J. Governor (2002-2004) James Solomon, city councilor (since 2017) Joyce Watterman, president of the Jersey City Council (since 2023) *Oakland CA Mayor* Non-partisan special election April 14, 2025: Barbara Lee, U.S.Rep CA-12 (1998-2025) Loren Taylor, Oakland City Council (2019-2023), lost general election Sheng Thao, Oakland Mayor, lost recall election Nov. 5, 2024	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]