Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2013-10-23

Duration: 00:56:11

Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | Drugs | MARIJUANA | Drug addiction

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Goidel, Kirby Host
• Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
• Drake, Diana Interviewee
• Wolf, Michael Interviewee
• Mack, Sherman Interviewee
• Tuttleman-Kriegler, Emma Interviewee
• Iverson, Erik Speaker
• Laurent, Maureen Speaker
• Nelson, Otha "Tre" Speaker
• Runnels, Celeste Speaker
• Walker, Brenda Speaker
• Greenup, LaKaila Speaker
• Lefebvre, John Speaker
• Woodson, Isaiah Speaker
• Graham, Caroline Speaker
• Samuels, Albert Speaker
• Gaudin, Clark Speaker
• Haller, Catherine Speaker
• Taylor, James Speaker
• Cataldie, Louis Panelist
• Esman, Marjorie Panelist
• Scott, Charles Panelist
• Honore, Dalton Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from October 23, 2013, features Kirby Goidel leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana debate in Louisiana. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: Diana Drake of the New Beginnings Treatment Center in Lake Charles; Michael Wolf, an attorney in Baton Rouge; State Representative Sherman Mack; and Emma Tuttleman-Kriegler of Tulane Students for Sensible Drug Policy. The audience members then discuss their views on the current laws for the possession of small amounts of marijuana. A panel of experts then joins the audience members to answer their questions. The panelists are: Dr. Louis Cataldie, the medical director at Woodlake Addiction Recovery Center in Ethel; Marjorie Esman, the executive director of the ACLU of Louisiana; District Attorney Charles Scott of Caddo Parish, the president of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association; and State Representative Dalton Honore. They discuss: their view of the decriminalization of marijuana in Louisiana; marijuana addictions; marijuana as a gateway drug; the current sentencing guidelines for marijuana possession; racial disparities in sentencing; the influence of race on drug policy; medical marijuana; teaching kids to make good choices; the possible restrictions if marijuana is legalized; and the possible impact of decriminalization on people already incarcerated for drug possession. Hosts: Beth Courtney and Kirby Goidel