California Counts Town Hall: the debates on legalizing marijuana & repealing the death penalty

California Counts Town Hall: the debates on legalizing marijuana & repealing the death penalty

With just one week until election day, there's still time to get your #VoterGamePlan ready. Two highly debated topics on this year's ballot include Prop 64, which would legalize the use of recreational marijuana in California, and Props 62 and 66 on whether to abolish or reform the death penalty. Listen to both California Counts Town Hall forums with Larry Mantle and panels of experts to hear the pros and cons explored.

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With just one week until election day, there's still time to get your #VoterGamePlan ready. Two highly debated topics on this year's ballot include Prop 64, which would legalize the use of recreational marijuana in California, and Props 62 and 66 on whether to abolish or reform the death penalty. Listen to both California Counts Town Hall forums with Larry Mantle and panels of experts to hear the pros and cons explored.

5 things to know about legalizing recreational pot in California

California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996. Will it be the fifth to legalize recreational pot this November? We traveled to Sacramento to host a live event about the pros and cons of Proposition 64, which would legalize adult use of cannabis.

The town hall was moderated by Larry Mantle, host of KPCC’s AirTalk, and Beth Ruyak, host of Capital Public Radio's Insight. It was hosted by California Counts, a collaboration with KPCC in Los Angeles, KQED in San Francisco, Capital Public Radio in Sacramento and KPBS in San Diego.

We were joined by a panel of six guests from all sides of the argument. They fielded questions from the audience on topics that ranged from environmental to social implications. 

Here are five things you should know.

Denver-based writer Joel Warner said under Prop. 64, growers could apply for an unlimited grow license.

"On one hand, maybe it's good, but what happens to counties that have been long dependent on this?"

This is why the California Growers Association remains neutral on Prop 64, Warner said.

Kimberly Cargile, who is a member of the association said the group is neutral for a number of reasons. This includes concerns from smaller cannabis growers about the corporatization of the industry.

There's a reason why California Highway Patrol officers oppose Prop 64, said Anne Marie Schubert, District Attorney for Sacramento County. She argued that there needs to be a “per se” law on driving while stoned. “Per se” is a legal term that refers to standards on impairment.

But it's more complicated than that, argued Richard Miadich, who helped author the legislation. "There just isn't the technology," he said.

Read more about that technology here.

"What we really need—the most effective way to prevent impaired driving—is more training and more officers," he said.

Prop. 64 would generate an estimated $1 billion annually in California. About $200 million of that would go to local law enforcements for grants, said Miadich.

Taxes generated by Prop. 64 would also go to other programs dedicated to youth education, prevention and treatment and environmental protections, he said.

District Attorney Schubert said those in Sacramento County who are caught with possession of marijuana receive a $60 ticket. That's less money than what you would have to pay for a speeding ticket, she insisted.

But Kimberly Cargile, CEO of medical marijuana dispensary located in Sacramento, said that there are other related marijuana crimes that have a negative impact on society, including "the people who are charged with crimes they didn't commit."

Miadich argued that Prop 64 could save the state $10 million annually because of the decriminalization of cannabis.

Studies have shown that legalizing marijuana has little impact on drug cartels, said Peter Hecht, senior writer for the Sacramento Bee and author of “Weed Land: Inside America’s Marijuana Epicenter and How Pot Went Legit."

"There is going to be a black market for many years to come," he said.

Warner echoed those sentiments.

"There will always be a black market demand," he said.

Most farmers say they need to make $1,200 a pound to survive.

"We're removing the stigma and we're telling our kids it's OK," said District Attorney Schubert.

She argued that there are no studies to show the long-term impact of legalizing marijuana. And more specifically, she worries that we will see pot shops inundate communities of color.

Miadich insisted that tax revenue could have a positive impact on youth because it will fund education.

"Kids who don't have after school programs, get into drugs," he said.

He asked, “Do we want our kids buying pot from drug dealers?” He said it's time to develop a different system that "tries something new."

Listen to the attached audio to hear the lively discussion on recreational pot. 

Want more on Prop 64? Here's an FAQ on how it could change California. 

Correction: This story previously stated that farmers say they need to make $12,000 a pound to survive. The accurate number is $1,200. We regret the error. 

Guests

Kimberly Cargile, director and CEO of A Therapeutic Alternative, Inc., a medical marijuana dispensary located in Sacramento

Peter Hecht, senior writer for the Sacramento Bee and author of “Weed Land: Inside America’s Marijuana Epicenter and How Pot Went Legit”

Richard Miadich, managing partner with the Sacramento-based law firm Olson Hagel & Fishburn LLP

Lauren Michaels, legislative affairs manager for the California Police Chiefs Association 

Anne Marie Schubert, district attorney for Sacramento County

Joel Warner, Denver-based writer and former staff writer at the International Business Times, where he covered the marijuana industry

Series: California Counts

California Counts is a collaboration of KPBS, KPCC, KQED and Capital Public Radio to report on the 2016 election. The coverage focuses on major issues and solicits diverse voices on what's important to the future of California.

Read more in this series and let us know your thoughts on Twitter using the hashtag

.

Repeal the death penalty? 6 quotes from 'yes' and 'no' campaigns

Voters will see two state measures that take very different approaches in changing how California handles capital punishment in November. Proposition 62 would repeal the death penalty, while Proposition 66 would aim to speed up the process. 

On Wednesday evening, we gathered a panel of six guests from all sides of the argument. They fielded questions from the audience on topics that ranged from fiscal to racial implications.

The town hall was moderated by Larry Mantle, host of KPCC’s AirTalk, and Maureen Cavanaugh, host of KPBS' Midday Edition. It was put on by California Counts, a collaboration with KPCC in Los Angeles, KQED in San Francisco, Capital Public Radio in Sacramento and KPBS in San Diego.

Here are three questions debated during the event. 

Will Proposition 66 save California money? 

There are 743 people on California’s death row. That's by far the highest number in the nation. California hasn't executed a condemned prisoner since 2006. 

Proposition 66 aims to speed up the process of the death penalty; proponents said it would save the state money because it puts time limits on court reviews and requires appellate lawyers to take death penalty clients. (Currently, there aren’t enough lawyers to handle the automatic appeals for death row inmates.)

But opponents said, even if Proposition 66 passes, it'll cost the state a nice chunk of change. Justin Brooks, director of California Innocence Project, said there's a misconception that death penalty appeals cost money; it's death penalty trials that cost a lot, he argued. 

Yes to abolishing the death penalty says

No to abolishing the death penalty says

How do families of murdered victims feel?

Two panelists at the event Wednesday have had loved ones murdered. Beth Webb's sister Laura Webb was killed with seven other people in the 2011 shooting at Salon Meritage in Seal Beach. Marc Klaas is the father of Polly Klaas. She was kidnapped and killed in 1993.

Webb said she wants her sister's killer to serve life in prison because it validates what he did. She's in favor of Proposition 62, which would make the maximum sentence life imprisonment without parole. (Current death row inmates would see their sentences changed to life in prison under the proposition.) 

Klaas, on the other hand, said his daughter's killer doesn't deserve to live. He's in favor of keeping the death penalty. 

Yes to abolishing the death penalty says

No to abolishing the death penalty says

What are the racial implications? 

The real question is "do we deserve to kill?" Justin Brooks argued. He said he's walked 25 innocent people out of prison. 

Mike Farrell, co-author of Proposition 62 (and a former actor best known for his role on the TV series MASH), echoed those concerns. He also brought up the issue of racial discrimination.

Paul Pfingst, former San Diego County district attorney, said race play a role in every facet of the criminal justice system. But the notion that "the people making these decisions [about death penalty sentencing] are just a bunch of racists who don't care about these things, is just unfair," he argued.

Yes to abolishing the death penalty says

No to abolishing the death penalty says

To hear the full broadcast, tune into Airtalk noon Thursday, September 8. The audio will be archived on this web post.

Where do you stand on the death penalty? Tweet us your thoughts using the hashtag #CAcounts.

Guests

Justin Brooks, executive director of the California Innocence Project

Tom Dominguez, president of the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs

Mike Farrell, human rights activist, co-author of Prop 62, and former actor best known for his role on the TV series MASH

Paul Pfingst, former San Diego County district attorney

Beth Webb, sister of Laura Webb, who was killed along with seven other people in the 2011 shooting at Salon Meritage in Seal Beach

Marc Klaas, father of Polly Klaas, who was kidnapped and killed in 1993

Series: California Counts

California Counts is a collaboration of KPBS, KPCC, KQED and Capital Public Radio to report on the 2016 election. The coverage focuses on major issues and solicits diverse voices on what's important to the future of California.

Read more in this series and let us know your thoughts on Twitter using the hashtag

.