Governor John Hickenlooper is scheduled to appear Sunday night in a new 60 Minutes episode scrutinizing the impact of marijuana legalization.
Previews of the footage show the governor urging caution to the five states considering legalization this fall. The reasons? Teen use and driving high.
“My recommendation has been to go slowly and probably wait a couple years and let’s make sure we get some good vertical studies to make sure that there isn’t a dramatic increase in teenage usage, that there isn’t a significant increase in abuse like while driving,” Hickenlooper told Dr. Jon LaPook. “We don’t see it yet, but we don’t have enough data to make that decision.”
Although Hickenlooper was initially opposed to legalization—and has in the past said he would reverse amendment 64 if he could—tonight he apparently won’t be backpedaling.
“I think we might be able to do this. But I’m not so confident that I’m telling the other states ‘yeah, go for it,” Hickenlooper told LaPook.
Among other pot mysteries that will be explored in tonight’s episode are illegal grow operations and babies born THC positive. Dr. Steven Simerville, a pediatrician and director of the newborn intensive care unit at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center, will discuss unknowns of marijuana and fetal development.
“The Pot Vote” will air Sunday on CBS at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Multimedia business & healthcare reporter Chloe Aiello can be reached via email at [email protected] or twitter.com/chlobo_ilo.
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