Weighing a proposal to include women in military drafts; debating whether to use cannabis as a way to treat opioid addiction; & our Native Angeleno series continues with a new book on the history and architecture of the Los Angeles Central Library.
This year’s National Defense Authorization Act proposes women sign up for the draft
Late last year women were approved to officially serve in all combat positions in the military, a decision that remains controversial among rank-and-file soldiers.
Last night the NDAA left committee for the floor and it includes a provision that would require women to also sign up for the draft at age 18.
It was introduced by California Representative Duncan Hunter, an Iraq veteran who would actually not like to see women drafted, but would rather re-hash the debate about women’s roles in combat on the House floor.
However, a draft has not been instituted since 1973, while yesterday, with perfect timing, it was announced that Captain Kristen Griest, the first female Army Ranger, will now become the army’s first female infantry officer.
Guests:
Kate Germano, Soon-to-be retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel; Incoming Chief Operating Officer of Service Women’s Action Network
Joe Davis, National Spokesman for Veterans of Foreign Wars
Is distracted driving the same as drunk driving? The ‘textalyzer’ would treat it that way
In an effort to curb an increase in distracted driving, a New York State lawmaker is proposing a law that would give police the technology to treat texting and driving the same way as drinking and driving.
The so-called “textalyzer” would allow police at the scene of a car accident to plug in drivers’ phones to their computer be able to tell if a driver has been texting, emailing, taking selfies, or doing anything else that is forbidden under the state’s hands-free driving law without viewing the specific content.
The company developing the software, Cellebrite, is the same data extraction company that was reported to have helped the FBI break into the iPhone that belonged to the San Bernardino shooter.
While the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that police may not search a smartphone without a warrant, the lawmaker who proposed the bill says the “textalyzer” would operate under the same ‘implied consent’ legal theory that a breathalyzer does. That is, when you get your driver’s license, you’re implicitly consenting to a future breathalyzer at the risk of losing your license if you refuse.
The bill faces hurdles from the tech privacy community, which worries that the law could fall afoul of the Fourth Amendment.
Guests:
Thomas Dingus, professor of engineering at Virginia Tech University and director of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
Alan Butler, senior counsel for the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)
Dueling doctors debate doling out dope to deal with dangerous drug dependence
There’s a lot of conflicting research out there when it comes to what the benefits of medical cannabis are.
There are studies that support the idea that cannabis can be used to treat things like chronic pain, anxiety, or appetite loss, and can even help mitigate the symptoms of chemotherapy or treat diseases like ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and multiple sclerosis. Still, other research links cannabinoids to hallucinations, paranoia, and long-term memory loss. But could it be used to treat opioid addiction?
It’s a proposal that’s gaining interest from some advocates and lawmakers, especially in New England and the Northeast, which is seeing some of the worst of the current heroin epidemic. Currently, there is little to no research suggesting cannabis is an effective treatment for opioid addiction, so many doctors are loath to prescribe it. The evidence that does point to its usefulness in treating addiction is mostly anecdotal, and the seriousness of the heroin epidemic also makes this idea a tough sell in many of the states hit hardest by opioid addiction and overdoses.
Should lawmakers consider funding more research into marijuana’s ability to treat opioid addiction? How would they go about doing that given marijuana’s Schedule I drug status? Would you consider cannabis for yourself or a loved one to help treat opioid addiction?
Guests:
Gary Witman, M.D., a doctor with Canna Care Docs, an alliance of medical marijuana clinics with locations in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and other states. He has treated addicts with cannabis at his offices in Fall River, Stoughton and Worcester, Massachusetts
Kevin Hill, M.D., an addiction psychiatrist and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. Last year authored the JAMA study that found benefits in using medical marijuana to treat chronic pain, neuropathic pain and spasticity related to multiple sclerosis
Boomers are staying in their homes longer, and that’s not good for SoCal real estate
For Patricia Papernak, her two-story 3,500-square foot Tudor in West Los Angeles is the perfect place to entertain, decorate and garden.
The 63-year-old marketing professional says she's "never" selling — and other baby boomers feel the same.
"I can’t think of one friend who has talked about either downsizing or selling their home when they retire," Papernak said.
But realtors say the decision to stay longer in their homes is having a major impact on the entire housing market. Home listings are down three percent from this time last year, according to the California Association of Realtors. Lower housing turnover means less supply, which is driving up sale prices.
Read the full story here
Guest:
Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors
Daren Blomquist, Senior Vice President at RealtyTrac, a real estate information company based in Irvine
Obscured numbers make it difficult to analyze the potential effects of the California Drug Price Relief Act
The high cost of prescription drugs is a complex problem that could have a number of solutions, but a basic lack of transparency about the economic models that lead to the prices has left lawmakers and voters unsure of the best paths forward.
One proposal comes from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a November ballot measure called the California Drug Price Relief Act. It would fix the prices the State pays for their bulk drug purchases to what the Department of Veterans Affairs pays for their bulk purchases, a rate that the office usually negotiates to 20-40% below market.
Reinforcing California’s role as a national trend-setter, a coalition of pharmaceutical manufacturers have already spent over $50 million dollars to oppose the measure.
But in trying to figure out whether this law would bring down, rise, or stagnate drug prices, policy researchers and reporters have been stymied by trade secret laws or private contracts that can even tell them existing prices.
Guests:
Pauline Bartolone, reporter, CALmatters, a nonprofit publication focused on issues that affect Californians. She’s been following this story
Michael Weinstein, author of the measure and president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which seeks to provide “cutting-edge” medicine and advocacy regardless of clients’ ability to pay
Kathy Fairbanks, with Californians Against the the Rx Measure
Native Angeleno: The history and beauty of the Los Angeles Central Library captured in new book
Built in 1924, the Los Angeles Central Library is not only full of the largest holdings collection in any US public library, but its paintings, murals, sculptures and tile-work make it a living monument to the city's love of art, architecture, knowledge, and community.
A new book from Stephen Gee and Arnold Schwartzman capture the library's central location and symbolic grandiosity, which have become essential as we move away from printed information.
As part of “Native Angeleno,” AirTalk’s occasional series looking at the people, places and things that make Los Angeles what it is, authors Stephen Gee and Arnold Schwartzman join Larry to talk about the history and design of the Central Library.
Co-author Stephen Gee will be at the Los Angeles Central Library this Saturday, April 30, from 2:00p to 4:00p to talk about the book. Click here for more information.
Guests:
Arnold Schwartzman, photographer, co-author of the book, “Los Angeles Central Library: A History of Its Art and Architecture” (Angel City Press, 2016).
Stephen Gee, author, writer and TV producer, co-author of the book “Los Angeles Central Library: A History of Its Art and Architecture” (Angel City Press, 2016).