"Anytime the government creates new laws making products illegal it opens up opportunities for criminals to make large amounts of money and create vast criminal organizations that do more than sell cannabis. They sell drugs, guns, and people. Did we not learn anything from the prohibition era? What about the drug cartels now? When cannabis was made legal in Washington those "criminals" all became law abiding business owners who pay taxes and are now prominent figures in the local community generating millions in tax revenue for the city and state. They create jobs as well. Adults are responsible enough to drink and own guns, they are responsible enough to use cannabis safely." (Candidate Survey Response)

Holyk stated that marijuana decriminalization "is a states' rights issue for me. States should be allowed to decide their own drug policy. This is just one more arena that the federal government does NOT need to be involved in. At the end of the day we are talking about a plant. Tobacco and Alcohol should not be federally regulated either." (Candidate Survey Response)

"If the ONLY crime you committed was having simple possession, yes, you should have that conviction expunged. Any secondary charges that stemmed from the possession of cannabis should also be expunged. i.e. an otherwise law abiding citizen who was in possession of a firearm when they had cannabis on them." (Candidate Survey Response)

"The federal government has no business criminalizing simple possession of a plant especially when it is at odds with states laws. It puts cannabis dispensaries in a very bad situation where they have to operate as a cash only businesses. This opens them up to robberies and crimes yet at the same time because of this federal prohibition, you cannot use a firearm to protect yourself if you work at a dispensary or use cannabis. It also creates banking issues for dispensaries who would otherwise operate like any other tax paying business. It put millions of Americans in a position where they cannot exercise their GOD given rights to self defense and have to choose between owning a firearm and treating a medical condition." (Candidate Survey Response)

"Cannabis has all sorts of medical benefits. Cannabis is natural and has very limited side effects compared to drugs like opioids when used to treat pain." (Candidate Survey Response)