Stateside: Weed and teen brains; emergency manager overhaul bills; Amash leaves the GOP — now what?

Today on Stateside, how new rules from the state are likely to shape the marketplace for recreational marijuana in Michigan. Plus, a new bipartisan proposal in Lansing would overhaul the state’s current emergency manager law. 

Listen to the full show above or find individual segments below. 

What new state rules mean for MI’s recreational marijuana marketplace

• Ever since Michigan voters approved recreational marijuana, the question has been: where and when will it be for sale? The answers to those questions are becoming less hazy now that the state of Michigan has released rules governing retail sales of recreational marijuana.
• Amy Biolchini of MLive breaks down how soon adults over the age of 21 will be able to legally purchase marijuana products, and why opening a recreational marijuana business will likely be easier than opening a medical marijuana provisioning center. 

How many emergency managers does it take to fix a community?

• A bipartisan group of state lawmakers has proposed a package of bills that would replace state-appointed emergency managers with a committee made up of experts in finance and local government.
• Eric Scorsone is the director of the MSU Extension Center for Local Government Finance and Policy, and served as deputy treasurer under former Governor Rick Snyder. He explains what problems the 2012 emergency manager law has caused, and what he believes is the best way for the state to support communities in deep financial trouble.

Want to see what Michigan looked like before logging? Visit the Porcupine Mountains.

• Michigan’s state parks are turning 100 this year. To mark the anniversary, we’re talking to people who work at some of those state parks. Sandy Richardson works at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. With 60,000 acres in Gogebic and Ontanogan Counties, it’s the biggest state park in Michigan. Richardson tells us about the expanse of old-growth forest featured within the park, and why she thinks it’s worth a visit.

"Developmentally-vulnerable" teenagers should hold off on marijuana use, says Harvard doctor

• As more states climb aboard the legalized marijuana train, there are voices from the medical community urging caution — especially when it comes to teens. Dr. Staci Gruber is a clinical neuroscientist in the School of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. She studies how cannabis affects the brain. Gruber breaks down what we know about how marijuana use impacts adolescent brain development, and why she says teens should hold off on lighting up.

Automakers want certainty as Canada signs on to California’s emission standards 

• After the Trump Administration decided to lower standards on tailpipe emissions for cars and trucks established by former President Obama, California sued the administration. Now, Canada has jumped into fray by signing a deal with California to cut the country's vehicle emissions. 
• Michelle Krebs is an analyst with Cox Automotive’s AutoTrader. She explains why Canada is aligning its emission standards with California instead of the United States, and what this decision could mean for consumers.

Rep. Justin Amash plunges Michigan into uncharted political waters

• Last week, West Michigan Congressman Justin Amash announced he would be leaving the Republican Party. In an editorial published by the Washington Post, he cited his disenchantment with party politics as his impetus for leaving the GOP.
• John Sellek was communications director for two Republican attorneys genderal, worked in the office of former-Governor John Engler, and is now the CEO of the Lansing PR firm Harbor Strategic Public Affairs. He breaks down what Amash's decision might mean for his 2020 reelection campaign, and runs through the growing list of candidates challenging Amash for his seat. 

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