SPOTLIGHT: Consequences of Marijuana Legalization and Commercialization

Written by Benjamin Smith

Joining Monte Larrick for this week’s Spotlight podcast are Dr. Karen Randall and Jo McGuire, both Colorado residents and marijuana experts in their respective fields. Sixty Illinois legislators, Republicans and Democrats, have issued a resolution calling for a slowdown regarding legalization and commercialization of high-potency marijuana – and our guests say a slowdown is well-warranted.

Dr. Randall and Ms. McGuire can attest that the overall cost to health, safety, law enforcement, and social service entities in their state far outweighs the miniscule “profit” generated through marijuana tax revenue. While pot proponents say that tighter regulation of the marijuana industry in Illinois will help avoid the issues other states have encountered, our guests, based on their personal experience, strongly disagree. At the close of the podcast, Ms. McGuire discusses how commercialization of marijuana in Illinois and other states may lead to changes in long-standing federal banking regulations.

Please listen!

Dr. Karen Randall is an emergency medicine physician in Pueblo, Colorado and is affiliated with Parkview Medical Center. She received her medical degree from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. She holds a certificate in Cannabis Science and Medicine from the University of Vermont.

Jo McGuire is the executive director of the Board of Directors for the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association and advocates for safe and drug-free workplaces worldwide. She is also a Certified Professional Collector and Trainer (CPCT) and a Certified Designated Employee Representative Trainer (CDERT), who consults and trains professionals overseeing safety-sensitive employees in the compliance of federal DOT guidelines for drug and alcohol screening programs. Additionally, Ms. McGuire assists educators with classroom and assembly-style presentations aimed at youth drug prevention and parent awareness and education, as well as serving as the Senior Project Manager for TSS, Inc., a Third-Party Administrator (TPA) in the drug testing industry.

A bold voice for pro-family values!