Christopher R. Swanson

Office: Governor of Michigan

Party: Democrat

Questionnaire Responses

Question: Medical patients and consumers should always be the priority when it comes to cannabis. These questions get to the heart of patient and consumer safety issues of the day. Patient and Consumer Safety What does remediation of cannabis products mean?

Response: The remediation of cannabis products is a process by which presence impurities or other unwanted materials are removed from the product. This can often have the benefit of making the product the safer. It can also have the effect of lowering the quality of the product in regards to its effects, potency, smell, taste, and general terpene profile. It is important to understand that the use of this process does not necessarily suggest an unclean growing or curing environment or a low quality in the initial product. Producers near the Great Lakes, namely in Michigan, have been affected by winds bringing microbes from the lakes that are difficult to filter out with air filtration. The presence of these microbes often necessitates the use of remediation for the product to be safely consumed.

Question: Patient and Consumer Safety Do you support or oppose requiring the Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) to mandate that all cannabis products display a clear expiration date and explicitly state on the label whether the product has undergone remediation (e.g., sterilization or decontamination)?

Response: Strongly Support

Question: Patient and Consumer Safety How many cannabis consumers have died from cannabis consumption in the past 10 years? 20 years? 50 years?

Response: Due to the nature of cannabis, it is extremely difficult, and likely impossible to overdose on cannabis. As a result, the DEA has not reported any deaths from the overdose of cannabis. Whatever the actual figure, it is far less than most people believe.

Question: Patient and Consumer Safety Are you aware of the number of registered and doctor reviewed medical cannabis patients in the US? In Michigan?

Response: As of late 2024, the Marijuana Policy Project reported that there were over 3.5 Million patients. As for Michigan, as of October 2024 there were just over 60,000 registered patients, as reported by Michigan Cannabis.com. This is a clear decline from earlier in the decade.

Question: Patient and Consumer Safety Non-Smokable Medicine and School Administration: Do you feel that legislation should be passed to allow pediatric patients to receive their non-smokable cannabis medicine (such as tinctures, oils, or edibles) while at school, administered similarly to a prescription pharmaceutical by a designated staff member or school nurse? Would you support or oppose such legislation?

Response: Legislation permitting students use of non-smokable cannabis medicine, such as Jayden’s Law in Michigan, have significant merit for both the health and continued education of our K-12 students. Nobody sees this medical benefit more than the autistic community, aiding and protecting students, teachers, and staff alike. While strict protocols should be adhered to, the existing practice of forcing students to be checked out of school and moved 1000 feet from school property before approved medical products can be administered has caused delays or gaps in treatment, and missed educational studies. Allowing an approved staff member or on-site medical professional to administer these products for registered pediatric patients is something I would support as Governor.

Question: How should the Governor use their authority to ensure the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) creates a favorable climate for increasing the cannabis usage footprint within the state?

Response: Prioritize streamlined licensing, lower regulatory fees, and expand permissible consumption lounges

Question: As the Governor or Michigan Attorney State General, how would you direct state law enforcement to facilitate better cannabis industry outcomes?

Response: Fund local law enforcement grants for enhanced security infrastructure at cannabis businesses

Question: Michigan's cannabis excise tax revenues are currently distributed to local governments, K-12 education, and the Michigan Transportation Fund. What change, if any, to the distribution formula do you support?

Response: Reduce the overall tax rate to lower consumer prices and increase legal sales

Question: Do you support rescheduling cannabis? If you support rescheduling cannabis, are you aware of the potential of a new schedule for cannabis and other botanicals called Schedule VI?

Response: Given the criteria for schedule 1 substances, having a high potential for abuse and having no known medical uses, cannabis does not at all apply to this level of classification. While Schedule VI does not exist on a federal level, it has been used at the state level for substances which have a lower potential for abuse and have known medical uses. States such as North Carolina and Arkansas have classified cannabis as Schedule VI, while Arkansas also classified other similar substances as Schedule VI.

Question: Does knowing that there are over 30 million US citizens registered as medical cannabis patients change your opinion of rescheduling and legalization?

Response: No

Question: What is the most effective way for the State of Michigan to enhance genuine social equity participation and ownership within the cannabis industry?

Response: Fund low-interest loans, grants, and business mentorship specifically for social equity applicants

Question: Do you support state-level initiatives, like tax incentives or grants, to encourage Michigan's auto and manufacturing sectors to actively incorporate industrial hemp-based materials into their supply chain?

Response: Support

Question: Do you support economic development to help build the fiber and grain infrastructure for processing in Michigan?

Response: Yes

Question: What is the biggest issue pertaining to cannabis policy that is currently facing the state of Michigan?

Response: The level of taxation levied against legal cannabis growers and distributers must be adjusted to ensure those in the industry pay their fair share and are not the recipients of punitive tax policy from lawmakers who do not agree with the legalization of these products or who lean on the industry to fill budget gaps in other areas. Unfair taxation has created an opening for criminal enterprises, as well as a gateway to exposing more individuals to the opioid crisis. I am 100% committed to funding the repair and construction of roads and bridges. Under my administration these funding priorities will be accomplished without creating harm to other Michiganders.

Question: Do you support local municipal control in determining whether cannabis businesses should be allowed in communities throughout Michigan?

Response: Yes

Question: Will you ensure that your district offices will no longer require drug testing for cannabis as a requirement for hiring and ongoing employment as cannabis is now recreationally legal within Michigan?

Response: Yes

Question: How will you support MIOSHA in continuing to educate and enforce worker safety laws for cannabis employers?

Response: Safety regulations and those tasked with enforcing and ensuring rights for our workers are enforced have been under attack by politicians and big business alike. It is critical that Michigan agencies tasked with protecting worker safety and employee rights have the funding they need to continue to act as the last line of defense for those at risk of being exploited by employers and large corporations.

Question: How will your office work to engage with and support the cannabis community?

Response: As Governor I will ensure the cannabis community has a voice in my administration, and work to create task forces that examine commonsense policy and administrative changes that will not only help the industry, but Michigan residents who rely on these services.

Question: Are you aware that cannabis workers have unions in Michigan? Do you support them?

Response: I support union rights and membership in every level of public and private industry, and look forward to engaging with union leaders and membership alike. My administration will work for ways to expand union advocacy and membership for interested parties, and ensure that workers have a strong and vibrant voice in protection of their safety, wages, and benefits. Every person in Michigan should have the right to organize and petition through fair grievance process.

Question: Are you aware of the number of cannabis workers that have been killed or injured in the US? In Michigan?

Response: No

Question: Do you believe it is a right under the law for caregivers to provide cannabis to qualified patients?

Response: Yes

Question: Do you believe that the courts ought to have the ability to deny access to medical marijuana to probationers, parolees or other individuals under sanction by the criminal justice system?

Response: No

Question: Do you support or oppose the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act of 2008?

Response: Support

Question: Voter Will vs. Regulatory Overreach: The Michigan Medical Marihuana Act(MMMA) and the Michigan Regulated and Taxation of Marihuana Act(MRTA) were passed by voters. Do you believe it is acceptable for state regulatory agencies or the legislature to pass rules or laws that are perceived to contradict the will of the voters and nullify the rights established under the MMMA or the MRTA? If not, how will you prevent this?

Response: No. As Governor it is critical that the will of the people and the rights of each individual in our state remain paramount. I will veto and oppose any legislative action or policy that serves to erode the MMMA and MRTA, and refuse to rollback the rights, abilities, and protections granted to each Michigander under our state constitution. Politicians and special interests will not be allowed to do an end-run around the will of our voters, and the rights of our citizens. I wish more candidates running for higher office in Michigan would be willing to speak out on this issue.

Question: What is the difference between THCa and d9-THC?

Response: The difference between THCa and d9-THC is that one is psychoactive and the other is not. You cannot harness the psychoactive effects of cannabis by consuming THCa. It is necessary to process to d9-THC it in some way. The easiest way is with combustion, i.e. smoking. There are other ways such as vaporization and decarboxylation.

Question: How are active cannabinoids decarboxylated?

Response: The plant is heated for specific amount of time at a lower and constant temperature. This allows it to retain much of its chemical integrity while also converting the THCa in the plant to d9-THC and therefore making it psychoactive. This process is usually used when creating edible, topical, and concentrated cannabis products.

Question: Should cannabis have safety standards for heavy metals, pesticides, residual solvents, and microorganisms?

Response: ALL of the Above

Question: Is there science to show us the minimum amount of D9-THC to cause intoxication or driving impairment?

Response: Yes

Question: Do you think we need more research to understand the safety of cannabis? If yes, how much more research do we need and will you help fund that research?

Response: Yes, continued safety research is critical in every area of public and private industry, and should be a priority in each budget appropriations process. I will work with industry leaders and experts to formulate the funding for thoughtful and well-rounded research across each industry.

Question: Do you support hemp derived cannabinoids in cosmetics?

Response: Yes

Question: Do you support hemp derived cannabinoids in food?

Response: Yes

Question: Do you support hemp derived cannabinoids in intoxicating beverages?

Response: Yes

Question: Do you support additional regulation for hemp derived products in the US? In Michigan?
Response: Yes

Question: What is your opinion of hemp derived products being controlled by Liquor Control Board instead of by the Cannabis Regulatory Agency?

Response: Any hemp derived products that have cannabinoids with psychoactive or medicinal effects, such as d9-THC, CBN, CBD, CBG, THCv, etc, should be regulated and controlled by the Cannabis Regulatory Agency.