Cory Parella

What counties do you represent? If this is a statewide office, please put statewide.

Arapahoe

Have you or someone you loved ever experienced a mental health and/or substance use condition?

Yes

Question #1: Colorado, like the rest of the nation, is facing a youth mental health crisis. Do you support school policies and funding that increase the availability of mental health services and supports in schools and early childhood settings?

Yes

Would you like to explain your response to question #1?

I was appalled to learn some schools lack an on-site counselor.

Question #2: Do you believe mental health and substance use are serious issues your constituents are experiencing that deserve legislative attention and action? Please explain.

Yes. I was raised by a narcotics cop. I want to raise the age for legal use of 420 to 25. I want to add 2 felony strikes to the 3 strike law, but impose tougher fines and lengthier sentences for drug retailers who disregard our boundaries. Deport repeat offenders from State borders. (Oh Yes We Can.)

Question #3: Extreme risk protection orders, also known as red flag laws, allow law enforcement to temporarily remove weapons from individuals at significant risk to themselves or others. Colorado has a red flag law. Do you support extreme risk protection orders?

Yes

Would you like to explain your response to question #3?

Mental health evaluations are helpful tools. If a someone is making loud threats, it would be wise to deprive them of a gun. Yet, aren’t they too protected by the 2nd Amendment to carry a nonlethal weapon?

Question #4: Overdose deaths are at an all-time high nationally and in Colorado. Many believe increasing criminal penalties for people who use drugs is the answer. Do you support increased criminal penalties for people who use drugs? *
(Please note that we are asking about personal use, not distribution)*

Would you like to explain your response to question #4?

Disregarding boundaries should only be punished criminally when it effects other people, directly or indirectly.

Question # 5: As a follow up question, did you support legislation in the 2022 session that drastically increased the criminal penalty for possession of any substance over 1g if that substance contains any amount of fentanyl?

Yes

Would you like to explain your response to question #5?

Fentanyl is one of those things we wish we could un-invent. Each drug presents its own level of consequence.

Question #6: Do you believe the State should invest more funding for mental health and substance use? If yes, please explain where you would want additional funding to be directed. If no, please explain why.

Yes, but we already invest a lot. Licensing for counselors is weak. I’d make sure there were plenty of Intake and Domestic Violence counselors. I would farm State hospitals out to privately run companies and keep the contracts Short with an elected oversight official to monitor them. “Brubaker”. 😉

Question #7: People needing care, supports, and services for their mental health and substance use often experience discrimination as a result of their health condition. Would you support legislation that would protect people needing care, supports, and services for their mental health and substance use conditions from discriminatory practices?

Yes

Would you like to explain your response to question #7?

Margaret Sanger said only black people needed abortions. That inspired Adolf Hitler. NEVER AGAIN.

Question #8: For too long the state’s criminal justice system has acted as a substitute for a comprehensive mental health care system. Would you support policies that would disentangle mental health from the criminal justice system and promote the expansion of programs like Denver’s STAR program?

Yes

Would you like to explain your response to question #8?

I want to multiple campuses for Aurora’s Comitis.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I’m been homeless and manage a sensory overload disorder called Tourettes. I know what it is to be very educated, without a stable home and misunderstood. There is no excuse for epidemic unmanaged mental illness. I manage my condition. The personal decline of mentally ill meds shall be deemed criminal. No person has the right to self-medicate their condition with illegal drugs, booze and then terrorize our streets. That is what is happening. With respect to structured mental health care, most addicts refuse “help”. The will enact the unpopular to achieve the ideal.