The Heat examines the impact of marijuana legalization

The Heat

marijuana

With nearly two dozen U.S. states and the nation’s capital having approved some form of legalized marijuana use, what impact will it have on the nation’s economy and society?

According to federal statistics, about 94 million Americans have tried marijuana at some point in their lives. That’s 40 percent of the U.S. population age 12 and older. Yet it costs American taxpayers more than one billion dollars a year to incarcerate citizens for using pot.

So with reality and economics driving policy, a shift began in the country in 1996 that has now led to nearly two dozen states and the District of Columbia approving some form of liberalized marijuana enforcement.

CCTV America’s Jim Spellman provides some background on the issue.

Panel experts include:

  • Tom Gorman, a former undercover narcotics agent, he’s currently the Director of the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area — a drug prohibition enforcement program run by the United States Office of National Drug Control Policy.
  • Journalist and commentator D.L. Chandler.
  • The former head of the New York City Police Department and prison system, Bernard Kerik.

Segment one

Segment two