Arizona Guide
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Upcoming Election
Arizona Primary Election: Tuesday, August 4, 2020
Race for U.S. Senate (R)
D
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
Race for U.S. House District 2 (D)
C
Ann Kirkpatrick
(D)
After years of discussion, Kirkpatrick now accepts medical uses, but does not support wider legalization. http://norml.org/congressional-scorecard/arizona
Race for U.S. House District 4 (D)
A-
Delina DiSanto
(D)
Former congressional staffer, DiSanto is a longshot, but on the right side of the issue.
Race for U.S. House District 3 (R)
Race for U.S. House District 4 (R)
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.
Race for U.S. House District 5 (D)
B+
Joan Greene
(D)
Another Project Vote Smart legalization supporter.
Race for U.S. House District 5 (R)
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.
Introduced bill prohibiting state money from being used for marijuana research 4/21/16
Race for U.S. House District 6 (R)
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.
Race for U.S. House District 7 (D)
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.
Gallego supports full legalization and regulation
Race for U.S. House District 7 (R)
Race for U.S. House District 8 (D)
Race for U.S. House District 8 (R)
F
Debbie Lesko
(R)
Outspoken against legalization as late as 2018, continues to vote against progressive legislation reform in 2019.
Race for U.S. House District 9 (R)
D
Dave Giles
(R)
In previous campaigns, Giles has called for a crackdown on cannabis rights.
Your Elected Officials
Governor
U.S. Senate
D
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
U.S. 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.
U.S. House District 1
B-
Tom O'Halleran
(D)
U.S. House District 2
C
Ann Kirkpatrick
(D)
After years of discussion, Kirkpatrick now accepts medical uses, but does not support wider legalization. http://norml.org/congressional-scorecard/arizona
U.S. House District 3
A+
Raul Grijalva
(D)
U.S. House 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.
U.S. House 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.
Introduced bill prohibiting state money from being used for marijuana research 4/21/16
U.S. House 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.
U.S. House 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.
Gallego supports full legalization and regulation
U.S. House District 8
F
Debbie Lesko
(R)
Outspoken against legalization as late as 2018, continues to vote against progressive legislation reform in 2019.
U.S. House District 9
A-
Greg Stanton
(D)
State Senate District 1
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 2
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 3
B-
Sally Gonzales
(D)
Gonzales has not led on any bills but has been a consistent co-signer on reform bills.
State Senate District 4
A
Lisa Otondo
(D)
Longtime supporter, Otondo filed bills on hemp and autism as a qualifying condition in 2018 session.
State Senate District 5
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 6
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 7
B-
Jamescita Peshlakai
(D)
Signed on several bills over the years, but no leadership on issue.
State Senate District 8
C-
Frank Pratt
(R)
Good meetings little action.
State Senate District 9
A-
Victoria Steele
(D)
A former state legislator, Steele is longtime supporter on issue, having backed reform bills while in office and including cannabis reform in her platform while running for Congress. Steele is likely to be a new powerful ally in a Senate that could flip control or is highly likely to be tied 15-15. Here is her statement to LD9 Representative, Pam Powers-Hannley: "“I was a drug and alcohol therapist at a rehab center for women. I never once saw anyone overdose on marijuana. But I do see our prisons filled with brown-skinned people on marijuana charges. Decriminalization will help the economy. We will regulate marijuana like alcohol and tobacco. It’s a simple fix.”
State Senate District 10
A-
Dave Bradley
(D)
A longtime advocate. One of AZ’s first legislators to take meetings on reform.
State Senate District 11
F
Vince Leach
(R)
The most active prohibitionist over the last few years. Filed 6 anti-cannabis bills last session.
State Senate District 12
F
Eddie Farnsworth
(R)
One of cannabis’s dedicated opponents, Farnsworth has consistently blocked bills in his judiciary committee.
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
David Gowan
(R)
A returning state legislator who has opposed the issue in the past.
State Senate District 15
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 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
State Senate District 18
C+
Sean Bowie
(D)
Consistently avoids topic, claims district is too conservative to discuss it.
State Senate District 19
A-
Lupe Chavira Contreras
(D)
While never a leader on the issue, Contreras has provided steady support and signed onto reform bills for the past several years.
State Senate 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.
State Senate District 21
C+
Rick Gray
(R)
Resistant but open to discussion, supported hemp and testing bills this session.
State Senate District 22
C-
David Livingston
(R)
Formerly resistant, has lightened position somewhat, assisted the testing bill this year.
State Senate District 23
C-
State Senate 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.
State Senate District 25
D
Tyler Pace
(R)
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
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 Senate District 28
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-
Otoniel Navarrete
(D)
Several good meetings but no legislative action.
State House District 1
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 2
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.”
A-
Daniel Hernandez
(D)
A hero from the Gabby Giffords shooting in 2011, Hernandez has consistently supported a variety of progressive issues.
State House District 3
A
Andres Cano
(D)
Responding to our 2nd round, Cano writes, “I support legalization of medical and recreational marijuana. I believe that legalization will not only bring in additional revenue for our schools-- it will also lower rising costs that have contributed to an expensive, discriminatory criminal justice system.”
State House District 4
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 5
D+
Regina Cobb
(R)
Cobb claims to support medical, has not taken meetings or supported reform bills in a discernable way.
D
Leo Biasiucci
(R)
A former Green Party candidate, Biasiucci had claimed to support cannabis reform measures in 2016. However, his dramatic party shift and current billing as a “Trump Conservative,” bring all his positions into question.
State House District 6
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
Walt Blackman
(R)
After repeated attempts to give Blackman a chance to respond, he sent the brief note, “I'm not interested.” Duly noted.
State House District 7
State House District 8
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 9
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
Domingo DeGrazia
(D)
Reporting from an LD10 candidate forum, LD9 Rep. Pam Powers-Hannley notes DeGrazia joined other candidates calling for an end to cannabis prohibition.
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
State House District 12
B-
Travis Grantham
(R)
An urban moderate conservative, Grantham has grown to to a supporter on defelonization, hemp and testing.
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 House District 13
C
Timothy Dunn
(R)
New to legislature, no clear track record so far.
State House District 14
D
Gail Griffin
(R)
Staunch opponent.
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-
Nancy Barto
(R)
Dedicated purveyor of misinformation and propaganda. Blocked key reform votes and promoted misinformation during opioid discussions.
State House District 16
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)
C
Jennifer Pawlik
(D)
Like Steve Weichert, a returning candidate for LD17 Senate, Pawlik has a track record of challenging the GOP incumbents on a variety of issues … but avoiding this one.
State House District 18
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
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
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.”
State House 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.
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.
State House District 24
A+
Jennifer Longdon
(D)
Usually, only incumbents can truly be judged on their past work, but Longdon actually worked in the industry, making her one of the strongest cannabis candidates on record this election. See for yourself: “I was involved in the MMJ movement in its early days in Arizona as a caregiver. I briefly worked for the first collective in the state. I also helped write several dispensary applications for the first lottery and my pro-MMJ article appeared in the Phoenix New Times. Further, I support legalization of cannabis for recreational use. I would like to see cannabis treated and taxed like alcohol.”
State House District 25
D+
Rusty 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.
A+
Diego Rodriguez
(D)
One of 2016’s most visible cannabis reform candidates, a former prosecutor, Rodriguez took on notorious Maricopa County attorney, Bill Montgomery, and has maintained his strong call for cannabis reform as a legislative candidate.
State House District 28
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-
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.”
A+
Rich 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.”
State House District 30
B+
Robert Meza
(D)
While sending positive signs on the issue former Senator Meza interacted very little w reformers.
C
Raquel Teran
(D)
A Democratic party leader, Teran’s strong progressive record and campaign material do not appear to address cannabis reform directly.