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When asked whether or not she supports medical or recreational legalization, her campaign responded to Cal NORML, "California voted to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, and Eleni believes that now we need to make sure that the implementation of the law protects the public, especially our kids. Regulations must be put in place for a wide-range of aspects, from ensuring products are properly labeled, to setting up a banking system which keeps the industry from operating on an all-cash basis. Legalization poses other new challenges to public safety that must also be addressed, including a possible increase in people driving under the influence. Eleni believes we can develop effective regulatory practices to address these problems by imposing taxes, ensuring strict identification for purchases, and proposing and supporting bills that are specifically designed to protect our kids, and the public at large."
Has consistently opposed cannabis reform bills in state legislature and Congress.
Huffman had a good voting record on marijuana while in the state assembly. In 2012, he cast the deciding vote in committee in favor of California's landmark bill to legalize, tax and regulate cannabis. In Congress, Huffman has co-sponsored reform bills, and introduced bills to deal with illegal marijuana grows on public lands, such as 2013's PLANT Act to direct the US Sentencing Commission to enhance penalties for drug offenses involving use of poisonous chemicals, water diversion, or vegetation removal.
A hard-core small-government conservative, McClintock has taken a libertarian line on marijuana laws. A leading House Republican supporter of cannabis reform, he co-sponsored an amendment to stop DOJ from interfering in state adult-use legalization laws.
Matsui (pictured third from left) met with citizen lobbyists from Cal NORML at Lobby Day 2015. She has voted well on marijuana bills in Congress.
An MD, Dr. Bera is a strong advocate for medical marijuana but isn't quite on board with recreational. He co-sponsored the SAFE Banking Act (2019) and on other bills (see below).
State Assemblyman Obernolte is a front-runner to win a seat in this district, which opened up when Paul Cook retired.
Obernolte has a bad voting record as an Assemblyman.
Harder won a hard-fought race to flip the 10th district to the Democrats in 2018, defeating anti-marijuana Republican Jeff Denham.
The National Republican Congressional Committee announced early in the 2020 cycle that Harder’s district would be one of its priorities to take back, one of seven such districts in California.
As Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi has a policy of not voting on bills. Her leadership however has empowered House leaders to advance the most sweeping marijuana reform and legalization measures in the history of Congress.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee is a longtime friend and champion of the marijuana reform movement.
She is a Co-Chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus.
Congressman Ro Khanna has supported marijuana reform since his election to Congress and is a lead co-sponsor of the Marijuana Justice Act to end federal prohibition, expunge records, and reinvest in the communities that have been hardest hit by prohibition.
As an Assemblyman and Congressman, Valadao voted against every marijuana reform measure and opposes recreational legalization. In the California legislature, he co-sponsored an industrial hemp bill.
Congressman Nunes has never been a friend to the marijuana policy reform movement and voted against the Blumenauer/McClintock/Norton amendment to protect California's legalization program. However, he did vote in favor of the SAFE Banking Act.
Congressman McCarthy has never been a friend to the marijuana policy reform movement and voted against the Blumenauer/McClintock/Norton amendment to protect California's legalization program. However, he did vote in favor of the SAFE Banking Act.
Cardenas has a solid pro-marijuana voting record, both in the Assembly and in Congress, going back to 1999.
Co-sponsor, MORE Act and SAFE Banking Act of 2019. Says cannabis a "Criminal and racial justice issue." Has reached out for input from cannabis community.
Congresswoman Bass previously opposed marijuana policy reform but has recently come around to support the repairative components of legislation such as The Marijuana Justice Act and The MORE Act.
She is the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security where the MORE Act had a favorable hearing in July of 2019 and was later passed by the full Committee with Rep. Bass's vote.
Congressman Takano is the Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee. In this leadership role, he has yet to call for a vote on any of the multiple bills that have been introduced to address veterans' issues in relationship to cannabis policy.
Porter is the first Democrat to be elected to represent her district, which covers much of south-central Orange County. She was voted toughest questioner in Congress for her tough questions to corporate executives on wage and banking issues.
She raised more than $1 million in the final quarter of 2019, leaving her with $2.7 million in the bank in her bid to hang on to the seat she won in 2018. Her leading opponent, Republican Donald Sedgwick of Laguna Hills, reported $521,405 on hand.
Has championed marijuana for veterans and repealing obsolete border restrictions against marijuana users.
Supported by San Diego cannabis reform groups.
"Our nation’s marijuana laws are outdated, ineffective, and too costly, It’s wrong that we waste billions every year arresting and locking up and destroying the lives of tens of thousands of people for low-level, non-violent marijuana violations." -Campaign Twitter
Issa is a staunch drug warrior with a terrible voting record who advocated for a DOJ crackdown on state MMJ laws.
Her website says: It’s time for the federal government to de-criminalize cannabis. And we need to make sure that tax money derived from legal cannabis sales go back to rebuilding communities that have been devastated by the drug wars, and that we pardon all those who are in the criminal justice system due to non-violent marijuana-related offenses that would now be considered legal. https://sarajacobsforca.com/criminal-justice-reform
Longtime, strong supporter and cannabis advocate. Led campaign for Berkeley's 1979 marijuana initiative. One of first legislators in U.S. to vote for a total legalization bill in 2009. Has headed off bad legislation as chair of Public Safety Committee.
Cal NORML legislator of the year, 2018. Sponsored AB 34, allowing tax-free giveaways of medical cannabis to needy patients.
Josh Becker is founder of a philanthropic fund that supports nonprofits and is one of the few legislative candidates to have the formal backing of Gov. Gavin Newsom. He’s also raised a fair amount from Silicon Valley’s biggest venture capitalists.
Dave Cortese has been on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors since 2008, and ran for San Jose mayor in 2014 with the support of organized labor. Before that, he was a defense attorney, and was disturbed by the number of marijuana and drug offenders in prison. Cortese has been one of two Santa Clara supervisors to support establishing local cannabusiness.
"It's time to turn the page on overtaxation," Cortese told the state of cannabis conference, saying that taxation should be modest and not used to fund other state services. He regards expungement as "justice served."
Supported by the Women's Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Santa Cruz. Formerly Mayor of Santa Cruz, where he had a long history of defending safe access to marijuana. Believes overtaxation of cannabis is a key problem.
Monique Limon has a perfect voting record in the Assembly.
Newman (D) was recalled on June 5, 2018 after he voted for a gas tax. Former Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang (R) was selected to replace him. He defeated Chang in 2016 for the seat and is running for it again.
Her website says: Let me be very clear: as your Assemblywoman I will vote to get rid of the laws which let dangerous felons out of jail early, and which have decreased penalties for drug and property crime. At the same time, we need to have some compassion for our fellow Californians.
Has a good voting record. Introduced bill to regulate CBD products in CA.
One of five key Assembly sponsors of legislation regulating cannabis industry; voted against Prop 64.
Attorney, law professor and environmental advocate. Has a good voting record.
Lee is a young Gen Z progressive from a more conservative Chinese constituency. He is enthusiastically in favor of legal marijuana, social equity, employment rights for marijuana users, and more. He doesn't use drugs, but is open to discussing legalization of psychedelics.
November will be a re-match between Republican Mathis and his Democratic challenger Drew Phelps. Mathis took nearly 2/3 of the vote in March in this Republican district.
Has a poor voting record on marijuana reform.
Has a so-so voting record.
Democrat Steve Bennett, 69, is a Ventura County supervisor. In March 2017, he voted in favor of land-use amendments that would allow a limited number of dispensaries, processing plants and farms to provide marijuana for medicinal purposes in Ventura County.
“I asked the Board to approve a direction to staff to begin the process of developing proper regulations needed to have safe, practical access to medical cannabis while minimizing any negative impacts on the community,” Bennett said in 2016. “I made that request because I believe medical benefits of cannabis use are becoming more broadly known and we will only have safe, practical access with minimal negative impacts on the community if we invest the time and energy to create rational, effective regulations with a broad stakeholder input.”
New to Assembly in 2018. Has a good voting record. Won handily in the March primary against her Republican challenger, earning 72% of the vote.
As San Bernardino County Supervisor has repeatedly voted in opposition to legal cannabis in the county. Has a bad voting record in the Assembly, one of the worst for a Democrat. Took 57% of the vote in the March primary against his Republican opponent.
Good voting record. Won 66% of the vote in the March 2020 primary.
Weak voting record. In a three-way March 2020 Primary, took 35% of the vote, to Republican challenger Kotyuk's 33% and Democrat Mazingo's 31%.
In 2018, Assemblywoman Gonzalez held up the medical marijuana users' employment rights bill AB 2069 as chair of the Assembly Appropriations committee, citing safety concerns from labor unions. She did co-sponsor Asm. Bonta's bill to automatically expunge past marijuana convictions.