Election 2026

Independent, source-first accountability

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Issue record

Marijuana policy

In short

Hinson's campaign lists no marijuana position on the page checked. Turek has called for legalizing, regulating and taxing marijuana. Laehn's campaign says his first Senate bill would decriminalize marijuana. On the record, Hinson voted for a 2022 medical marijuana research law and against a bill to decriminalize cannabis. Turek was one of 32 sponsors of a 2023 Iowa bill to license and tax marijuana sales, which never left committee; Laehn, a county attorney, has no votes on it.

Campaign positions

What each campaign says.

Ashley Hinson

Her reviewed campaign issues page addresses fentanyl trafficking and violent crime under public safety but states no position on marijuana.

Josh Turek

Turek has called for legalizing, regulating and taxing marijuana.

Thomas Laehn

His campaign says the first bill he would introduce in the Senate would decriminalize the possession and use of marijuana, on the grounds that investigating, prosecuting and incarcerating users costs taxpayers more than the laws are worth.

Evidence timeline

What the record shows.

  1. campaign position

    Not comparable yet

    His campaign says he would introduce a Senate bill to decriminalize marijuana possession and use. No like-for-like federal or state legislative vote or sponsorship exists for comparison because his current public role is county attorney, not legislator. Limit: A prosecutor's case record is different from a legislative record and should not be inferred from job title. A future review would need case-level evidence and context.

  2. official action

    Josh Turek: Matches stated direction

    He was one of 32 sponsors of a 2023 Iowa bill to license, regulate and tax retail marijuana at 10 percent; it never left committee.

    Read the full check

    Full detail

    At an Iowa State football tailgate, reported September 7, 2026, he said marijuana should be legalized, regulated and taxed, and that he would like to address it at the federal level. He is one of 32 listed sponsors of H.F. 442 in the Iowa House, introduced February 24, 2023. The bill would license and regulate retail marijuana sales, set possession limits for people 21 and older, and tax each retail sale at 10 percent. The bill history lists no action after referral to the Public Safety Committee except one added sponsor. Limit: This was a state bill; he has cast no federal vote. His words come from a news report of the campaign stop; his campaign platform states no position on marijuana.

  3. official action

    Ashley Hinson: Matches stated direction

    She voted for a 2022 medical marijuana research law, against a bill to decriminalize cannabis, and for a bill protecting banks that serve cannabis businesses.

    Read the full check

    Full detail

    At an Iowa town hall in June 2025, while in the House, she said medical marijuana should be for medical use and that it is important to have a robust medical program like Iowa's. She said she was concerned about "free-for-alls" around marijuana and would "happily" take a look at it if the science backs it up. She voted Yea on the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act, H.R. 8454, on July 26, 2022 (Roll Call 392, passed 325 to 95); it became Public Law 117-215. She voted Nay on the MORE Act, H.R. 3617, a bill to decriminalize and deschedule cannabis, on April 1, 2022 (Roll Call 107, passed 220 to 204). She voted Yea on the SAFE Banking Act, H.R. 1996, a bill to protect banks that serve cannabis businesses, on April 19, 2021 (Roll Call 120, passed 321 to 101). Limit: Her words come from a news report of the town hall; her campaign site states no position on marijuana. The banking vote is about banks, not medical use.

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Sources13 source records

How we use sources

  1. Issueshttps://ashleyhinson.com/issues/

    Ashley Hinson for Iowa · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    Campaign-controlled source. Positions are attributed, not independently verified facts.

    candidate statement

    For: Ashley Hinson: campaign position

  2. Marijuana Should Be Federally Legalized And Taxed, U.S. Senate Candidate Josh Turek Sayshttps://www.marijuanamoment.net/marijuana-should-be-federally-legalized-and-taxed-u-s-senate-candidate-josh-turek-says/

    Marijuana Moment · Published Sep 7, 2026 · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    Used only for Turek's quoted words at an Iowa State University football tailgate.

    original reporting

    For: Josh Turek: campaign position; Josh Turek: Matches stated direction

  3. The Issueshttps://laehn4iowa.org/issues

    Thomas Laehn for U.S. Senate · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    Campaign-controlled source. Positions are attributed, not independently verified facts.

    candidate statement

    For: Thomas Laehn: campaign position; Not comparable yet

  4. County Attorneyhttps://www.greenecounty.iowa.gov/pview.aspx?catid=0&id=15489

    Greene County, Iowa · Reviewed Sep 7, 2026

    Used for Laehn's current county-office role and, on cards where a county attorney has no comparable legislative action, as the record side.

    official office record

    For: Not comparable yet

  5. House File 442 bill historyhttps://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/billTracking/billHistory?billName=HF442&ga=90

    Iowa Legislature · Published Feb 24, 2023 · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    31 sponsors at introduction, Turek among them; Gaines added March 2, 2023. Referred to Public Safety; no other action listed before END OF 2023 ACTIONS.

    official legislative record

    For: Josh Turek: Matches stated direction

  6. House File 442 (90th General Assembly), bill text (document)

    Iowa Legislature · Published Feb 24, 2023 · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    Explanation: Division II retail marijuana regulation; 10 percent excise tax on each retail sale; possession limits for people 21 and older.

    official legislative record

    For: Josh Turek: Matches stated direction

  7. GOP Congresswoman Says Medical Marijuana Helped Her Aunt Deal With Cancer Symptomshttps://www.marijuanamoment.net/gop-congresswoman-says-medical-marijuana-helped-her-aunt-deal-with-cancer-symptoms/

    Marijuana Moment · Published Jun 6, 2025 · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    Used only for Hinson's quoted words at an Iowa town hall.

    original reporting

    For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated direction

  8. Roll Call 392, H.R. 8454 passagehttps://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2022392

    Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Published Jul 26, 2022 · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act, motion to suspend the rules and pass; Hinson recorded Yea; passed 325 to 95 (Clerk XML roll392.xml).

    official legislative record

    For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated direction

  9. H.R. 8454 (117th Congress), Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Acthttps://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/8454

    Congress.gov · Published Dec 2, 2022 · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    Became Public Law 117-215.

    official legislative record

    For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated direction

  10. Roll Call 107, H.R. 3617 passagehttps://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2022107

    Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Published Apr 1, 2022 · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    MORE Act, on passage; Hinson recorded Nay; passed 220 to 204 (Clerk XML roll107.xml).

    official legislative record

    For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated direction

  11. H.R. 3617 (117th Congress), engrossed in the Househttps://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117hr3617eh/html/BILLS-117hr3617eh.htm

    GovInfo · Published Apr 1, 2022 · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    Long title: an Act to decriminalize and deschedule cannabis.

    official legislative record

    For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated direction

  12. Roll Call 120, H.R. 1996 passagehttps://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2021120

    Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Published Apr 19, 2021 · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    SAFE Banking Act, motion to suspend the rules and pass; Hinson recorded Yea; passed 321 to 101 (Clerk XML roll120.xml).

    official legislative record

    For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated direction

  13. H.R. 1996 (117th Congress), engrossed in the Househttps://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-117hr1996eh/html/BILLS-117hr1996eh.htm

    GovInfo · Published Apr 19, 2021 · Reviewed Sep 25, 2026

    Long title: an Act to create protections for financial institutions that serve cannabis-related legitimate businesses.

    official legislative record

    For: Ashley Hinson: Matches stated direction