It was an off year for voting, but there were still some races with national importance that will be decided on November 5.
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and his Democrat challenger Andy Beshear
Andy Beshear Upsets Incumbent Matt Bevin in Kentucky Gov Race
In Kentucky, Republican governor and Trump supporter Matt Bevin faced a strong Democratic challenge from state attorney general Andy Beshear.
Beshear defeated Bevin by 5,189 votes with all precincts reporting. While Beshear declared victory, Bevin refused to concede. However, he did nine days later on November 14.
Gov. Bevin Appears to Be Afflicted with Reefer Madness
In July, Bevin made some outrageous statements about Colorado, which has had legal cannabis sales since 2014. "Look at the homelessness, look at the increases in their emergency rooms, look at the problems they have with law enforcement of bordering states," he said. "Look at the amount of disease and things that have spiked up as a result of people who are coming for the fact that they can smoke pot legally.”
Two years earlier, Bevins contended that Colorado was rife with marijuana overdoses:"THC content in marijuana is not like it was even a generation ago. There are people overdosing based on ingestion of products that are edibles and things. You have that state being sued by at least two of their border states. You have law enforcement people in emergency rooms being overrun by problems. You have homelessness spiking in that state. It has not been good for that state, and states like us would be wise to look at that and realize that’s a sucker’s bet.”
Andy Beshear (photo via AP)
Andy Beshear Is for Medical Marijuana
Kentucky is one of 17 states without an extensive medical-marijuana program. Bashear says he would change that: “I support placing medical marijuana legalization on the ballot as a constitutional amendment and would vote in its favor. I would vote for it because I’ve seen the impact opioids have had on every Kentucky community. So many Kentucky families have seen a loved one fall into addiction, and their lives have been devastated. If medical marijuana is an alternative and gives people the chance to get pain relief without being subjected to opioids, I think it’s something we’ve got to explore.”
Beshear's father Steve was Kentucky's governor from 2008-2015.
"Candidate for attorney general Daniel Cameron (R) seems to prefer deferring to law enforcement on the issue of medical marijuana. Former Attorney General Greg Stumbo(D) said he strongly supports medical cannabis, and he will 'push for and advocate' decriminalizing possession of small amounts. Notably, Stumbo sponsored a medical cannabis bill during his time in the General Assembly."
"In the race for treasurer, challenger Michael Bowman (D) supports medical cannabis and has called for 'a conversation' about legalization. A web search did not reveal any public comments on the issue from incumbent Allison Ball (R)."
Thirteen cities in Ohio - Athens, Bellaire, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, Fremont, Logan, Newark, Norwood, Oregon, Roseville, Toledo and Windam - had already passed marijuana decriminalization laws. Six more - Adena, Amherst, Bremen, Nelsonville, Northwood and Wren - wanted to join them. Voters weighed in at the ballot box.
