A motley crew of legalizers and prohibitionists duked it out on Sean Hannity's "Stoned America" special on Fox News Friday night.
Though he opened by saying he thinks more states will legalize marijuana "because the government wants the money," the host mostly pushed a conservative agenda. In his view marijuana is a gateway drug and pot smokers are dimwitted, not the kind of people he wants to hang out with. Further, pot legalization opens the door to legalizing other, harder drugs.
For this hour-long forum, Hannity's producers assembled an odd assortment of talking heads. On the anti side were:
Dr. Eric Braverman - Path Medical Foundation, director
Dr. Marc Siegel - Fox News Medical A-Team
Chloe Milas - Hollywoodlife.com
Bo Dietl - former NYPD detective
Joanne Nosuchinsky, "Red Eye, co-host
Todd Starnes - Fox News radio
Boris Epshteyn - Republican strategist
Kisha Hebbon - defense attorney
Ashley Pratte, Young America's Foundation
Kirsten Haglund - former Miss America
On the pro side were:
Matt Welch - The Independents, co-host
Sherrod Small - comedian
Tamara Holder - Fox News contributor
Gavin McInnes - "The Death of Cool" author
Mason Tvert - MPP, director of communications (not on panel)
Guy Benson - Fox News contributor
Brian Benjamin - Democratic strategist
Noah Rothman, Mediate.com, editor
Tom Ruskin - former NYPD detective
Dr. Anne Williams - naturopathic doctor
Ainsley Earhardt did a report from the Denver rec shop, Euflora.
The worst offenders were the two doctors. The best pro comment came form Small, who declared, "Legalize it" at the end of the show.
Playlist (songs played before and after commercial breaks)
Legalize It - Peter Tosh
Mary Jane - Rick James
Roll Me Up and Smoke Me - Willie Nelson
Panama Red - New Riders of the Purple Sage
Johnny Be Good - Peter Tosh
Jammin' - Bob Marley
Don't Worry, Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin
Because I Got High - Afroman
