Iowa Democratic governor candidates: More than one wants to make marijuana legal

Mackenzie Ryan | The Des Moines Register

Show Caption Hide Caption Candidates talk cannabis at Democratic debate The five candidates answered questions on expanding medical cannabis during the Register/KCCI Democratic Gubernatorial debate.

All five Democratic candidates for governor agreed that Iowa should expand the ability for patients to access medical marijuana.

But they differed on whether the drug's personal use should be legal in the vein of Colorado or Oregon.

The final gubernatorial debate before Tuesday's primary was hosted by the Des Moines Register and KCCI included multiple references to marijuana.

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Early in the 90-minute debate, when asked about state revenue, one candidate went so far as suggesting Iowa should legalize marijuana's personal use as a way to pay for schools.

Here are their responses from the debate or in interviews after with the Register:

Cathy Glasson:

Glasson suggested legalizing the personal use of marijuana and taxing it as a way to raise additional state revenue for schools or health care.

"We need to consider" looking at it, Glasson said during a question about taxes. "We know that there are other states in this country, particularly Oregon, that generate $85 million by doing that, and they fund public education and they fund their health care with that."

In another answer, she said medical marijuana should be expanded in Iowa.

Fred Hubbell:

Hubbell received a loud "boo" from the audience when he said he was against decriminalizing, or lowering the judicial penalties against, marijuana.

"Not yet," he said. "I think we need to see how it actually works in other states for a longer period of time first."

After the debate, Hubbell said he has a "wait-and-see attitude toward recreational marijuana."

"The other states that are doing it, they have issues, they have problems, and I want to see what’s the best way before we go down that path," he said.

Hubbell also said he was in favor of expanding its medical use.

Andy McGuire

"Yes, medical cannabis should be treated as any other drug," said McGuire, a physician, during the "lighting round" in which candidates answer each question briefly.

When asked about the decriminalization of marijuana McGuire said she'd look into it.

"I think it is, right now, hurting people of color, incarcerating them at a higher level," she said.

John Norris:

Norris told the Register he does not support legalizing marijuana for personal use, meaning it is readily available to the public, but he noted what he called a trend of legalizing it in certain states.

"I haven't sensed Iowans are ready for it," he said."I don't suspect Iowa is going to lead on legalizing."

He added, however: "It's likely in our future."

Norris believes there is broad support for "fixing the medical marijuana bill," and that criminal penalties for marijuana should not include jail time.

"Decriminalization means that people could be incarcerated and it goes on their long-term record," he said. "I think it should be a fine."

Ross Wilburn:

“My focus is medical marijuana because there are Iowans who can use it right now,” Wilburn told the Register.

Wilburn's mother died of cancer, and if marijuana had been legal for medical purposes, he would have helped her get it as it may have helped, Willburn told the Register.

When it comes to legalizing marijuana for personal use, Willburn's open to it, but said there's some steps that need to happen first.

In Colorado and Oregon, “there’s some logistical issues in terms of making sure someone is not driving impaired,” he said. “I’ve been in a worksite where someone was high and rolled a dump truck."