This two-part podcast episode presents a discussion of some foundational information surrounding the criminal justice aspect of marijuana and other, related substances.
This Justice Today Podcast discusses various issues and questions facing researchers about marijuana, from a criminal justice standpoint. Marijuana poses many challenges for researchers, law enforcement, and policy makers, challenges that fall into two fields: drug chemistry and toxicology. National Institute of Justice (NIJ) scientist, Dr. Frances Scott, joins host, Josh Mondoro, in this episode to explain the complications in drug chemistry and how difficulties defining marijuana lead to backlogs in crime labs around the country.
Part one provides background information regarding the drug chemistry and toxicology of marijuana and hemp, including definitions of various terms and agricultural bills that have affected the legal aspects of those products, their uses, and their variants and derivatives.
In part two, Mondoro and Scott discuss the effects of marijuana in comparison to those of alcohol, measuring impairment, and maintaining public safety as more and more states legalize recreational marijuana. Mondoro and Scott also explore the many challenges posed by marijuana legalization for researchers, law enforcement, and policy makers.