Arizona
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Your Elected Officials
Senate
B
Kyrsten Sinema (D)
While avoiding the topic in general, Sinema has issued statements calling for the federal government to allow state programs to operate without interference and for increased access for veterans.
D+
Jeff Flake (R)
little use of office for issue
C
John McCain (R)
C
Martha McSally (R)
Typical law-n-order conservative. McSally’s office is one of four congressional or senate offices that refused to meet with our AZ delegation during the national NORML conference in July. https://www.myheraldreview.com/opinion/call-on-mcsally-to-legalize-marijuana/article_12cdcf8e-b47e-11e7-919c-4f695fe05491.html
Governor
Congressional District 1
C-
Tom O'Halleran (D)
avoids discussion
Congressional District 2
B
Rep. Ann L. Kirkpatrick (D)
After years of discussion, Kirkpatrick now accepts medical uses, but does not support wider legalization. http://norml.org/congressional-scorecard/arizona
Congressional District 3
A+
Raul Grijalva (D)
another longtime champion. First AZ congressperson to work for reform
Congressional District 4
F
Paul Gosar (R)
Despite repeated meetings and a medical degree as a dentist, Gosar has consistently stayed on wrong side of issue, even for vets, Proposed some draconian anti-cannabis bills over the years.
Congressional District 5
F
Andy Biggs (R)
As former President of the AZ State Senate, Biggs has been a dedicated obstacle to reform despite numerous meetings in both PHX and DC.
Congressional District 6
B
David Schweikert (R)
A verbal supporter of AZ’s medical cannabis industry, thanks to the deep pockets of dispensaries in his district, Schweikert is yet to take actual stances to fight for reform.
Congressional District 7
A+
Ruben Gallego (D)
Longest AZ champion on the issue, both at the state and federal levels. As a state legislator, Gallego was the first to introduce legislation for full adult use in AZ.
Congressional District 8
C-
Debbie Lesko (R)
Formerly resistant as a state legislator, Lesko has lightened position somewhat thanks to working w LEAP.
Congressional District 9
B-
Mr. Greg Stanton (D)
As mayor of Phoenix, Stanton has avoided multiple opportunities to defend the issue.
State Senate District 01
D+
Karen Fann (R)
Still full of misinformation after years of meetings, Fann claims to accept medical use, but still treats patients like suspects.
State Senate District 02
A
Andrea Dalessandro (D)
A longtime advocate on medical issues, Dalessandro writes, “Very UNfamiliar with cannabis personally - Strongly OPPOSES federal government policy - Strongly SUPPORTS Arizona’s MMJ Program - WILL advocate for reducing AZ Criminal Penalties if elected - Strongly SUPPORTS state and federal legalization/decriminalization.”
State Senate District 03
B
Olivia Cajero Bedford (D)
Cajero Bedford has supported some bills but not as a leader.
State Senate District 04
A
Lisa Otondo (D)
Longtime supporter, Otondo filed bills on hemp and autism as a qualifying condition in 2018 session.
State Senate District 05
A
Sonny Borrelli (R)
Despite a strong anti-legalization stance, Borrelli has emerged as a leading GOP reformer on medical cannabis issues, pushing through the 2018 hemp bill and working over a year on an unsuccessful bill that would have established testing standards for the industry.
State Senate District 06
F
Sylvia Allen (R)
Allen has long been on record opposing cannabis reforms, but that is far from the worse of her positions. It probably shouldn’t be surprising that Allen is so far off base on cannabis issues. The woman once said we did not need to worry about the environment because … well … because, "(The Earth) has been here 6,000 years, long before anybody had environmental laws, and somehow it hasn't been done away with." No seriously, Allen actually said that in a legislative hearing. Watch here. Laughably, after this remark Allen was appointed to chair the GOP-driven committee on education. Allen needs to be reeducated due to beliefs rooted in propaganda.
State Senate District 07
B-
Jamescita Peshlakai (D)
Signed on several bills over the years, but no leadership on issue.
State Senate District 08
C-
Franklin Pratt (R)
Good meetings little action.
State Senate District 09
B-
Steve Farley (D)
leading Dem no strong stance on issue
State Senate District 10
A-
David Bradley (D)
A longtime advocate. One of AZ’s first legislators to take meetings on reform.
State Senate District 11
C+
Steve Smith (R)
His stance as opioid use disorder as a qualifying condition for MMJ is a bright spot in republican leadership.
State Senate District 12
D
Warren Petersen (R)
Though Petersen has claimed to support cannabis reform, his record hasn’t shown it. When he talks about the issue in his caucus he's still speaking reefer madness.
State Senate District 13
C
Sine Kerr (R)
A midterm replacement, Kerr kept under the radar, but did vote for SB1420, the testing bill
State Senate District 14
D
Gail Griffin (R)
Staunch opponent.
State Senate District 15
D-
Nancy Barto (R)
Dedicated purveyor of misinformation and propaganda. Blocked key reform votes and promoted misinformation during opioid discussions.
State Senate District 16
D+
David Farnsworth (R)
Based on the track record of LD16 legislators like Rep. Kelly Townsend and Senator Farnsworth, he may be right. Another prohibitionist leader, Farnsworth held several meetings on reform, but voted against it. Filed 3 anti-cannabis bills last session.
State Senate District 17
D
Steven Yarbrough (R)
State Senate District 18
C+
Sean Bowie (D)
Consistently avoids topic, claims district is too conservative to discuss it.
State Senate District 19
B
Lupe Contreras (D)
State Senate District 20
F
Kimberly Yee (R)
Launched several harsh bills against marijuana that thankfully were killed. Thinks concentrates are narcotics.
State Senate District 21
C+
Sen. Rick Gray (R)
Resistant but open to discussion, supported hemp and testing bills this session.
State Senate District 22
D
Judy Burges (R)
State Senate District 23
F
John Kavanagh (R)
A former Manhattan cop, this guy is AZ's most colorful and most dogged prohibitionist. Kavanagh has already been a scourge in both houses. Not as funny as he thinks he is, either.
State Senate District 24
C-
Katie Hobbs (D)
despite long reputation for reforming agenda, refuses to answer anything on marijuana, unpleasant and cold when working with local NORML chapter.
State Senate District 25
D+
Bob Worsley (R)
Worsley says he supports medical but hasn't been any help. In previous years he was part of the prohibitionist crowd.
State Senate District 26
A+
Juan Mendez (D)
A leader in AZ legislative cannabis reform, Mendez has filed and backed bills for years on reform.
State Senate District 27
C+
Catherine Miranda (D)
Despite leadership position hasn't advanced cause.
State Senate District 28
C
Kate Brophy McGee (R)
Thus far, though McGee claims she has supported medical program, she has taken no action.
State Senate District 29
A
Martin Quezada (D)
Another of the longtime supporters on the issue, Quezada writes, “Somewhat familiar with cannabis personally - Strongly OPPOSES federal government policy - Strongly SUPPORTS Arizona’s MMJ Program - WILL advocate for reducing AZ Criminal Penalties if elected - Strongly SUPPORTS state and federal legalization/decriminalization.” Additional Comments: “I support the legalization of cannabis. I am also realistic about needing a long-term strategy to move the political needle to get there in order to get public and political buy-in. I am committed to working on ways to accomplish that.”
State Senate District 30
B+
Robert Meza (D)
While sending positive signs on the issue former Senator Meza interacted very little w reformers.
State House District 01
C
David Stringer (R)
A former DC lawyer, Stringer claims to support issue but hasn't helped, saying his district is too conservative.
D+
Noel Campbell (R)
A former DEA pilot, Campbell professes to support the medical program, but continues to perpetuate debunked reefer madness myths from his days in law enforcement. If he wasn’t such a gentleman about his score would be lower.
State House District 02
A-
Daniel Hernandez (D)
A hero from the Gabby Giffords shooting in 2011, Hernandez has consistently supported a variety of progressive issues.
A
Rosanna Gabaldon (D)
Another longtime supporter, Rep Gabaldon has seen personal medical miracles for her family and friends. Gabaldon writes: “Cannabis use is an issue that needs to be addressed in our state, and I would support legalizing recreational use. Arizona suffers from high incarceration rates, where non-violent offenders are jailed alongside violent offenders, which can lead to high recidivism rates. This places a burden on our law enforcement and a financial burden on our state.”
State House District 03
A-
Macario Saldate (D)
longtime supporter
B-
Sally Gonzales (D)
Gonzales has not led on any bills but has been a consistent co-signer on reform bills.
State House District 04
A-
Charlene Fernandez (D)
Emerging as a legislative voice for the medical cannabis industry, Fernandez has backed several key pieces of legislation.
B
Geraldine Peten (D)
New to the legislature, Ms. Peten backed key bills this session.
State House District 05
C+
Paul Mosley (R)
Though embattled w unrelated scandals, Mosley found time to introduce a very weak decrim bill (only up to 1/8th) and signed on hemp bill.
D+
Regina Cobb (R)
Cobb claims to support medical, has not taken meetings or supported reform bills in a discernable way.
State House District 06
F
Bob Thorpe (R)
A staunch prohibitionist, Thorpe literally wrote the book on Tea Party activism and has repeatedly rallied opposition to cannabis reforms at the capitol.
F
Brenda Barton (R)
State House District 08
B-
T.J. Shope (R)
For years Shope has quietly supported cannabis reforms and shown some leadership on a couple of bills.
C
David Cook (R)
Office mate of leading GOP reformer Kevin Payne, Cook supported the hemp and testing bill.
State House District 09
B
Randall Friese (D)
The minority leader in the House, Doctor Friese has a key role in cannabis reform and had helped some bills along the way, however his efforts to work against SB1420 at the end of this past session lowered his score.
A+
Pamela Powers Hannley (D)
The strongest advocate in the state House, Powers-Hannley, a medical writer and MMJ card holder, is a leader on progressive causes (former chair of the state Democratic Party progressive caucus) and filed pro-cannabis bills in both years of her first term at the capitol. Powers-Hannley filed a bill that would have solved the AZ Concentrates Crisis this past session and is expected to have a robust reform agenda next session.
State House District 10
B+
Kirsten Engel (D)
Another urban progressive Engel has been an ally to Powers-Hannley on multiple bills including cannabis reform.
A-
Todd Clodfelter (R)
Having attended an ALEC convention in Denver that was feted by the Colorado cannabis industry, Clodfelter came back a changed politician and filed more than one bipartisan cannabis reform bills this session. Following his primary victory, Clodfelder has vowed to push for even reforms in 2019.
State House District 11
C
Mark Finchem (R)
Worth noting, late in the past session, literally about 9PM during the final voting debate, which literally started at 10AM the previous day, Finchem, broke character and spoke in favor of a reform bill. Insiders say that’s not likely to happen twice, but we can hope. Finchem is among the small crowd of incumbents angling to become Speaker of the House if re-elected. Bumps him up to a C
F
Vince Leach (R)
The most active prohibitionist over the last few years. Filed 6 anti-cannabis bills last session.
State House District 12
F
Eddie Farnsworth (R)
One of cannabis’s dedicated opponents, Farnsworth has consistently blocked bills in his judiciary committee.
B-
Travis Grantham (R)
An urban moderate conservative, Grantham has grown to to a supporter on defelonization, hemp and testing.
State House District 13
C
Rep. Timothy Dunn (R)
New to legislature, no clear track record so far.
C+
Darin Mitchell (R)
Though a staunch conservative otherwise, Mitchell supports limited reform, especially to strengthen the medical program and on defelonization.
State House District 14
D
Drew John (R)
D-
Becky Nutt (R)
Worked against reforms in committees and on the floor.
State House District 15
D+
John Allen (R)
Needs to be reeducated due to beliefs rooted in propaganda.
D-
Heather Carter (R)
Though she says she is open to medical, she hasn't heard cannabis bills in her House health committee over several sessions.
State House District 16
D
Doug Coleman (R)
typical opponent
F
Kelly Townsend (R)
A leading source of misinformation and opposition, Townsend is the bitterest prohibitionist at the capitol.
State House District 17
C
Jeff Weninger (R)
D-
J.D. Mesnard (R)
As Speaker of the House, Mesnard torpedoed at least a dozen reform bills during his tenure.
State House District 18
C
Jill Norgaard (R)
Voted well on the testing and hemp bills but still a cypher overall.
B
Mitzi Epstein (D)
While Epstein has spoken in favor of cannabis reform bills, she is less active than several of her allies in the House.
State House District 19
A+
Mark Cardenas (D)
A
Diego Espinoza (D)
Seat mate of the former leading House cannabis champion, Mark Cardenas, Espinosa has backed and filed pro-reform bills. He writes, “Not very familiar with cannabis personally - Strongly OPPOSES federal government policy - Strongly SUPPORTS Arizona’s MMJ Program - WILL advocate for reducing AZ Criminal Penalties if elected - Strongly SUPPORTS state and federal legalization/decriminalization.”
State House District 20
F
Paul Boyer (R)
Leader in prohibitionist community, part of 2016 NO-vote campaign. Usually the most guaranteed NO vote in the legislature.
D
Anthony Kern (R)
During HR1820 (the testing bill) Kern used his speeches to belittle and insult cannabis medical patients. His votes on the bill aside, Kern needs educating.
State House District 21
B-
Tony Rivero (R)
A bit more supportive than most in his caucus, especially regarding defelonization, but still shy on leadership.
A+
Kevin Payne (R)
The real deal, Payne was the driving force in the House behind the testing bill HR1820 and plans an aggressive reform agenda for the 2019 legislative session.
State House District 22
B
Ben Toma (R)
Another mid-session replacement, Toma was attentive in meetings, but did not commit to reform positions. One of the few GOP candidates to reply to our survey, Toma writes: “VERY UNfamiliar with cannabis personally INDIFFERENT to federal government current policy INDIFFERENT to Arizona’s MMJ program WILL advocate for reducing AZ criminal penalties if elected Slightly OPPOSES state and federal legalization/decriminalization.”
C-
David Livingston (R)
Formerly resistant, has lightened position somewhat, assisted the testing bill this year.
State House District 23
C+
Jay Lawrence (R)
A former hardcore prohibitionist RW talk show host, Lawrence has evolved some. In 2016, Lawrence backed off pushing a bill that would have disqualified pregnant women from receiving medical cards. Presented w info, he changed his position. Let’s hope the trend continues.
C-
State House District 24
A-
Lela Alston (D)
Longtime supporter, as both a state senator and state representative Alston has signed on key bills, though not taken a leadership role on this issue.
A
Ken Clark (D)
DECRIMINALIZE A leader in the minority caucus, Clark has supported cannabis issues and worked w the industry for several years. Clark writes, “VERY familiar with cannabis personally Strongly OPPOSES federal government current policy Strongly SUPPORTS Arizona’s MMJ program WILL advocate for reducing AZ criminal penalties if elected Strongly SUPPORTS state and federal legalization/decriminalization Additional Remarks: I have a track record of supporting legislation and running amendments that support safer, more accessible cannabis for adults.”
State House District 25
D+
Russell Bowers (R)
RW ideologue, Bowers did work to advance HR1820, but consistently disparaged the program and patients.
C-
Michelle Udall (R)
The only discernible difference in position between these two is Udall’s comparative lack of sarcasm.
State House District 26
A-
Isela Blanc (D)
DECRIMINALIZE A fiery supporter, Blanc took leadership on several of last session’s pro-reform bills.
A
Athena Salman (D)
This is another deep blue district with strong support for cannabis reform. Working w LD26 Senator Juan Mendez, Salman has taken a vocal stance for cannabis reform.
State House District 27
B-
Reginald Bolding (D)
A school teacher turned political reformer, Bolding has been bold on a wide variety of issues, but not cannabis, citing community attitudes. He has signaled an increased interest in the issue over the years.
B+
Rebecca Rios (D)
Rios writes, “VERY familiar with cannabis personally - Strongly SUPPORTS federal government policy - Strongly SUPPORTS Arizona’s MMJ Program - WILL advocate for reducing AZ Criminal Penalties if elected - Strongly SUPPORTS state and federal legalization/decriminalization.” (Rios's efforts to work against SB1420 lowered her score.)
State House District 28
D-
Maria Syms (R)
During the 2018 session Rep Syms was a continuous purveyor of misinformation. Needs to be reeducated on marijuana facts, has propaganda stances.
B+
Kelli Butler (D)
A former party leader, Butler is a powerhouse in the House and a supporter on reform.
State House District 29
A+
Richard Andrade (D)
A hard worker for this issue, Andrade worked on positive bills and frequently met w the industry. Andrade writes, “VERY familiar with cannabis personally Strongly OPPOSES federal government policy Strongly SUPPORTS Arizona’s MMJ program WILL advocate for reducing AZ criminal penalties if elected Strongly SUPPORTS state and federal legalization/decriminalization Additional Remarks: We must ensure the Cannabis industry is protected and able to expand without undue regulations.”
A-
Cesar Chavez (D)
While somewhat less active on the issue than his seat mate, Andrade, Chavez has taken multiple meetings on reform bills and voted favorably. He writes, “VERY familiar with cannabis personally - Strongly OPPOSES federal government policy - Strongly SUPPORTS Arizona’s MMJ Program - WILL advocate for reducing AZ Criminal Penalties if elected - Strongly SUPPORTS state and federal legalization/decriminalization.”
State House District 30
A
Ray Martinez (D)
Proud parent of a boxer who uses cannabis for pain relief, Rep Martinez has strong support for the AZ medical program and hosted events at the capitol.
B-
Otoniel Navarrete (D)
Several good meetings but no legislative action.