>> STAY TUNED FOR IVORY TOWER.

TWO FORMER PANELISTS RETURN TO THE TABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE LATEST INDICTMENT OF DONALD TRUMP.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M BARBARA FOUGHT FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

WE HAVE TWO SPECIAL PANELISTS TONIGHT - FAMILIAR FACES TO LONG-TIME VIEWERS.

FIRST, DAVID RUBIN.

DAVID WAS THE ORIGINAL MODERATOR OF THIS SHOW AND IS DEAN EMERITUS FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

ALSO BACK IS LISA DOLAK, A PROFESSOR OF LAW AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

IT IS SO GOOD TO HAVE BOTH OF YOU WITH US.

ALSO HERE IS ONE OF OUR REGULAR PANELISTS - ANIRBAN ACHARYA FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE.

WELL NO DOUBT ABOUT OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT GEORGIA'S GRAND JURY'S INDICTMENT OF DONALD TRUMP ALONG WITH 18 OTHERS.

THIS INDICTMENT IS QUITE BROAD INCLUDING COUNTS OF RACKETEERING, SOLICITING OR IMPERSONATING A PUBLIC OFFICER AS WELL AS FORGERY AND FALSE STATEMENTS AND, DAVID, A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THIS FOURTH ONE IS JUST PILING ON.

>> HARDLY.

JORNG AIS-- GEORGIA IS A SOVEREIGN STATE I.

HAS ITS OWN ELECTION LAW.

IT'S ENTITLED TO ENFORCE ITS OWN ELECTION LAW F. THEY DON'T ENFORCE THEIR OWN ELECTION LAW, THEN THESE LAWS ARE GOING TO KEEP GETTING BROKEN.

SO WILLIS IS QUITE RIGHT TO HAVE INVESTIGATED THIS.

LET ME POINT OUT ALSO THAT SHE STARTED THIS INVESTIGATION RIGHT AFTER THE INFAMOUS TELEPHONE CALL, WAY BEFORE MERIT GARLAND HAD PUT HIS PANTS ON.

HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THIS INVESTIGATION AND HE WASN'T DOING ANYTHING WE NOW KNOW, FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.

SO THANK GOD THAT MISS WILLIS WAS DOING THIS AND WAS GETTING AFTER IT.

SHE UNDERSTOOD THE STAKES.

A COUPLE OF OTHER POINTS AND THEN I'LL YIELD THE FLOOR SINCE THERE IS A LOT TO SAY.

THIS INDICTMENT PAINTS A VERY CLEAR PICTURE FOR ANYBODY IN THE COUNTRY WHO WANTS TO UNDERSTAND THE LENGTH TO WHICH TRUMP WAS GOING TO GO TO STEAL THIS ELECTION AND STAGE A COUP.

THIS IS A BLOW BY BLOW HOW GEORGIA WAS A BATTLE BROWNED IN THIS.

IF YOU READ THE INDICTMENT AND I RECOGNIZE MANY AMERICANS WON'T AND CERTAINLY HIS SUPPORTERS WON'T.

BUT IF YOU DO, IT'S ALL THERE.

IT IS GOING TO END UP ON NETFLIX.

IT HAS EVERYTHING.

AND THAT'S VERY VALUABLE.

SECOND AND VERY IMPORTANT.

THESE PROSECUTIONS PUT ON NOTICE ELECTION OFFICIALS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING MY CURRENT STATE, SOUTH CAROLINA, THAT IF YOU FOOL AROUND LIKE THIS, YOU ARE GOING GO TO JAIL.

AND YOU ARE GOING HAVE HUGE LEGAL BILLS AND YOUR CAREER IS WRECKED.

SO YOU BETTER FOLLOW THE RULES.

AND IF WE HAD LET THIS GO, GETTING BACK TO PILING ON, IF WE HAD LET THIS GO, SHE HAD LET IT GO IN GEORGIA, THEN WHAT'S THE MESSAGE?

THE MESSAGE IS THIS KIND OF CHICANERY IS FINE.

WE'LL FIDDLE AROUND AND WE DON'T HAVE TO PLAY BY THE RULES.

SO THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT INDICTMENT.

>> AND LISA THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THOUGH ALSO HAS AN ELECTION PIECE OF ITS INDICTMENT.

SO IS THIS NECESSARY?

>> YES, I THINK ACTION IN GEORGIA WAS NECESSARY.

WHETHER IT WAS THIS ACTION, WHETHER IT WAS THE RICO STATUTE, PUTTING 19 DEFENDANTS IN ONE INDICTMENT I'M NOT SO SURE ABOUT.

I'M ALL ABOUT ENFORCING THE LAW.

I AGREE... >> THANKS FOR THAT.

>> I AGREE 100% REGARDING MERRIC GARLAND AND I AGREE WITH SENDING A MESSAGE TO ELECTION OFFICIALS IN OTHER STATES.

AGAIN, IT'S THE RICO STUFF THAT I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT.

>> WHAT ABOUT THAT BOTHERS YOU?

>> WELL LOOK, FIRST OF ALL, THE GEORGIA STATUTE IS BROADER THAN THE FEDERAL RICO STATUTE AND STATUTES IN OTHER STATES.

AND APPARENTLY THAT WAS DONE I TENSIONALLY BY THE GEORGIA LEGISLATURE, INCLUDING TO REACH ENTERPRISES INVOLVING POLITICAL ACTORS.

SO FAR SO GOOD.

AND I AGREE IF TRUMP WAS GOING TO BE CHARGED, YOU KNOW, SORT OF WITH THE WHOLE PLOT, THE WHOLE STORY, THAT GEORGIA WAS THE BEST PLACE TO DO IT BECAUSE IT SEEMED TO BE A REAL HOT BED, YOU SAID, A FOCUS AREA.

BUT I GUESS MY ISSUES ARE THAT A LOT OF THE CONDUCT REFERENCED IN THE INDICTMENT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN GEORGIA.

THAT'S OKAY UNDER THE GEORGIA STATUTE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS... >> SHE MENTIONED THINGS IN MICHIGAN AND ARIZONA AND I WASN'T SURE WHY THAT WAS IN THERE.

>> THE GEORGIA STATUTE ALLOWS THAT.

IT'S ONE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH IT IS BROADER.

AND I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE THAT SOME OF THE SO CALLED OVERT ACTS AND FURTHERANCE OF THE CONSPIRACY THAT ARE REQUIREDDED UNDER RICO INVOLVED SOME OF HIS TWEETS THAT REALLY ARE VERY-- I MEAN ON THEIR FACE, QUITE INNOCUOUS.

THREE OF THEM ARE INSTRUCTING HIS SUPPORTERS WHERE TO TUNE IN TO WATCH SOME OF THE HEARINGS THAT WERE GOING ON IN GEORGIA AFTER THE ELECTION.

>> SHE SAYS JUST BECAUSE IT'S AN ACT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S CRIMINAL.

>> AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE.

THAT'S THE SECOND WAY THE GEORGIA STATUTE IS BROADER, THE OVERT ACTS DON'T HAVE TO BE CRIMES ON THEIR OWN.

BUT HERE IS THE BOTTOM LINE.

AT LEAST MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE INDIVIDUAL ACTS CHARGED, FORGERY, FALSE STATEMENTS, SOLICITING AN OFFICIAL TO VIOLATE AN OATH.

>> BREAKING INTO MACHINES?

HOW ABOUT THAT?

>> THOSE ARE ALL CRIMES ALL ON THEIR OWN UNDER GEORGIA LAW.

SO SHE COULD HAVE, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, NOT AN EXPERT ON GEORGIA CRIMINAL LAW, CHARGED THOSE AS CRIMES THEMSELVES.

MIGHT HAVE BEEN TAKEN MULTIPLE INDICTMENTS BROKEN UP.

AND SHE COULD HAVE DONE THAT.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CLEANER, PERHAPS MORE PERSUASIVE TO PEOPLE, RAISED FEWER WEES.

AND PRESUMABLY COULD HAVE BEEN DONE A LOT SOONER THAN THIS, WHICH IS A PROBLEM THAT ALL OF THESE INDICTMENTS TOOK SO LONG TO COME DOWN BECAUSE THE ELECTION IS A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AWAY.

>> BUT SHE KEEPS SAYING SHE LIKES TO TELL A STORY.

SHE WANTS THE JURY TO GET THE WHOLE PICTURE.

SHE WANTS TO LAY IT ALL OUT.

NOT THIS PIECE OR THIS PIECE.

SHE WANTS TO SHOW HOW THE WHOLE THING DAME CAME TOGETHER, THE LIES, THE VOTING MACHINE, THE TRASHING THE TWO LADIES COUNTING VOTES INNOCENTLY.

EVERYTHING ELSE HE WAS DOING.

SHE LIKES TO TELL A STORY.

A ADMIRE THAT.

>> THESE 91 INDICTMENTS JUST TO FOLLOW IT, I FEEL LIKE I NEED A RESEARCH ASSISTANT TO FOLLOW THIS.

THERE HAS BEEN A CONCERN AMONG LEGAL SCHOLARS THAT JACK SMITH AND THIS, THESE TWO INDICTMENTS ARE AT CROSS PURPOSES BUT I AGREE WITH BOTH OF YOU.

I DON'T THINK IT IS.

IT ISN'T, RIGHT, THAT EVEN IF THE SAME CRIME ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL OR STATE LEVEL THESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT OFFENSES.

THAT'S HOW THE LEGAL SYSTEM WORKS.

AND YOU KNOW, HE IS CALLING THIS HIM TO FIND 1100 OR SO VOTES AND SO I DO THINK SHE IS DOING RIGHT.

SHE IS GOING THE RIGHT PATH.

BUT I ALSO THINK THERE WILL BE TREMENDOUS LEVELS OF PUSHBACK FROM THE DEFENSE TEAM TO DELAY THIS AND ALREADY I'M HEARING THAT THERE HAS BEEN A REQUEST TO DELAY UNTIL 2026 BY THE LAWYERS.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER-- BECAUSE THERE IS A GOOD ARGUMENT TO BE MADE THAT YOU CANNOT STRADDLE A DEFENDANT WITH TREMENDOUS LEVELS OF PAPERWORK.

THEIR LAWYERS HAVE SAID THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH 90,000 PAGES PER DAY, RIGHT?

SO THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE, YES, BUT GIVEN ALL THESE CASES COMING TOGETHER, SEVERAL JUDGES MIGHT SEE THAT THERE MIGHT BE A LONGER TIMELINE FOR THIS AND THEN IT GETS INTO 2026 AND WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT VISTA WE HAVE AT THAT TIME IF HE WINS OR OTHER REPUBLICANS WIN.

>> I WOULDN'T BELIEVE A THING HIS LAWYERS SAY.

AND THIS 2026 IS JUST A JOKE.

THEY'RE THROWING OUT THERE SOME DATE.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO HOLD THIS TRIAL AT THE POINT WHEN TRUMP IS IN HOSPICE.

I MEAN COME ON.

>> ONE THING I KNOW FOR SURE ABOUT ALL OF THESE INDICTMENTS AND THESE CASES IS WE ARE GOING TO MAKE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF LAW.

THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS OF FIRST I AM IMPRESSION AND THERE IS GOING TO BE SO MUCH LITIGATION.

IT IS REALLY GOING TO SIGNIFICANT ADVANCE THE...

THE REACH AND ITY OF THE STATUTE.

WE WILL NO DOUBT SEE TRUMP INVOKE IT IN NEW YORK WITHOUT SUCCESS.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT CASE.

THE STATUTORY INTERPRETATION QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE THREE CRIMINAL STATUTES IN THE JANUAR.

THERE ARE SOME LEGAL QUESTIONS AROUND WHETHER THEY REACHED THE CONDUCT IN QUESTION.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THE INTERPRETATION AND REACH OF THE CRIMINAL STATUTES IN GEORGE A.

THE EXISTENCE AND SCOPE-- THIS ONE WILL UPSET MY COLLEAGUE HERE ON THE RIGHT.

THE EXISTENCE AND SCOPE OF POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY; HOWEVER LIMITED, IS GOING TO BE LITIGATED.

AND ULTIMATELY DEPENDING ON THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION WHETHER A PRESIDENT CAN PARDON HIMSELF.

RIGHT?

SO WE ARE-- BUCKLE UP.

A LOT OF LAW IS GOING TO BE MADE.

>> AND LOTS MORE DISCUSSION WE ARE GOING TO HAVE.

IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE IF THIS WILL CHANGE ANYBODY'S MIND WHETHER IT'S REPUBLICANS IN CENTRAL NEW YORK OR TRUMP SUPPORTERS IN CENTRAL NEW YORK OR POLITICIANS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

LET'S TURN TO AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE.

PRESIDENT BIDEN RECENTLY SIGNED AN ORDER TO PROTECT ABOUT ONE MILLION ACRES OF SACRED TRIBAL LANDS AROUND THE GRAND CANYON.

WHILE THE LAND IS SOME OF THE RICHEST IN THE COUNTRY FOR URANIUM, NOW NO NEW MINING CAN OCCUR.

SO THAT LEAVES THE U.S.

DEPENDENT ON OTHER COUNTRIES FOR 95% OF THE URANIUM IT NEEDS.

AND THE THIRD LARGEST PRODUCER IS RUSSIA.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE, THE ENERGY ISSUE.

AND THE TRIEBLG LANDS.

>> I HAD A HARD TIME GETTING EXCITED ABOUT THIS ISSUE EITHER WAY.

ED THE ADMINISTRATION'S ATTEMPT TO SAY THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM A CLIMATE CHANGE PERSPECTIVE SEEMS TENUOUS AT BEST TO ME.

YOU KNOW, ENVIRONMENTAL, SURE, BUT CLIMATE CHANGE SPECIFICALLY.

AND SECONDLY, I'M NOT EVEN SURE I NECESSARILY SEE HOW THIS HELPS HIM.

WHY HE IS DOING IT.

DOES HE THINK IT HELPS HIM POLITICALLY IN ARIZONA?

I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.

BUT IN GENERAL, I SUPPORT PRESERVING BEAUTIFUL LANDS TO THE EXTENT THE COST OF DOING THAT ISN'T TOO HIGH, PARTICULARLY OUT IN THE WEST.

THIS AREA REPORTEDLY ONLY HAS 1.3% OF THE UNITED STATES KNOWN URANIUM.

AND THE IMPACTS ON ENERGY DEPENDENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY APPEAR TO BE MODEST IF ANY.

AND THE MONUMENT DESIGNATION IS NOT GOING TO AFFECT ANY EXISTING MINING RIGHTS.

SOME MINES THAT ARE ALREADY IN PROCESS.

LIKE I SAID, I CAN'T GET TOO EXCITED EITHER WAY.

>> LOOK, THIS DECISION COMES OUT OF A POLICY VOID.

IT STARTS IN 1979 THREE-MILE ISLAND.

AFTER THAT ACCIDENT, THE SUBJECT OF WHETHER THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS BECAME A THIRD RAIL.

NOBODY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IT.

SO WE DON'T HAVE A POLICY IN THIS COUNTRY AS TO WHETHER WE OUGHT TO HAVE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS.

SO WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

WE ARE NOW DOWN TO 92 OPERABLE REACTORS AND THAT HAS BEEN DECREASING EVERY YEAR SINCE 1990.

ONLY ONE REACTOR HAS STARTED UP IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS AND THERE ARE ONLY TWO NOW THAT ARE UNDER CONSTRUCK.

-- UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

THAT'S IT.

MY POINT IS HOW ABOUT A POLICY ON NUCLEAR POWER; THAT IS, ARE WE GOING TO DEVELOP IT OR ARE WE NOT GOING TO DEVELOP IT?

ARE WE GOING TO BUILD MORE OR NOT?

IF WE BUILD MORE, WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON FOSSIL FUEL BURNING PLANLTS.

HOW MUCH URANIUM WOULD WE NEED, HOW MUCH URANIUM WOULD WE HAVE TO IMPORT?

NO ADMINISTRATION SINCE 1979 HAS BEEN WILLING TO AUTISM TOUCH THE QUESTION OF NUCLEAR POWER AND THEN WE HAVE TO GET THE WASTE ISSUE AND HOW DO WE DISPOSE OF THE NUCLEAR WASTE.

BUT TO DISCUSS THIS QUESTION IN THE ABSENCE OF UNDERSTANDING ANY OVER ARCHING FEDERAL POLICY ON NUCLEAR POWER, AND I PERSONALLY BELIEVE WE OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN BUILDING THESE PLANTS SINCE 1979.

AND WE OUGHT NOT TO HAVE BEEN SCARED OFF BY THREE-MILE ISLAND, WHICH WAS NOT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, DESPITE THE PATHETIC PRESS COVERAGE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, WHICH GOT IT ALL UP INTO THINGS IT WAS NOT.

WE NEED A POLICY.

SO, YOU KNOW, DO WE NEED TO MINE IN THIS AREA?

WHO THE HELL KNOWS?

WE DON'T HAVE A POLICY.

THAT'S MY VIEW.

>> ANIRBAN, THIS WAS IMPORTANT THOUGH FOR THE TRIBES IN THAT AREA, AND FOR SOME TREATIES.

THE JUSTICE ISSUE?

>> JUSTICE ISSUE IN THE SENSE THAT THE REASON FOR PROTECTING THE LANDS IS TO PROTECT SOVEREIGNTY OF NATIONS, INDIGENOUS NATIONS, RIGHT?

AND YES, THERE ARE URANIUM MINES THERE THAT THEY'RE UNTAPPED URANIUM RESOURCES THAT CAN BE USED BUT IT MIGHT VIOLATE THE RIGHTS OF THE TRIBES.

AND I DO AGREE, YOU KNOW, EVEN AFTER THE THREE-MILE ISLAND.

THE VERTICAL CLASS WAS WARMING UP TO THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS BUT THEN IT EVAPORATED SO WE DON'T HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO BE BUILDING THESE PLANTS.

AND JUST HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, AFTER THE COLD WAR, U.S. AND RUSSIA WENT INTO AGREEMENT WHERE IT WAS CALLED THE MEGA TONS FOR MEGAWATTS.

SO BASICALLY TAKING DEPLETED URANIUM WAR HEADS FROM RUSSIA AND REPURPOSING IT FOR AMERICAN NUCLEAR POWER.

AND THAT GAVE RUSSIA, OVER THE LAST-- THAT THING ENDED IN 2013, BUT OVER THE LAST 20 OR 30 YEARS, RUSSIA HAS DEVELOPED AN ABILITY TO ENRICH URANIUM, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT ONE OF THE LARGEST PRODUCERS.

THEY'RE ONE OF THE LARGEST ENRICHERS OF URANIUM.

SO, YOU KNOW, DEPENDENCE ON THAT, I DO UNDERSTAND IT.

BUT THE REALITIES, AS YOU POINT OUT, WE HAVE A NUCLEAR POWER UTILITIES AND THEY HAVE BOUGHT THESE THINGS YEARS IN ADVANCE.

SO I DON'T-- THE INDUSTRY EXPERTS DON'T SEE ANY IMMEDIATE SUPPLY CHAIN CONSTRAINT.

SO I GO BACK TO YOUR POINT.

I AGREE.

BOTH SIDES SEEMS A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, STRANGE TO ME.

>> QUICKLY DAVID, LISA SAID SHE WASN'T SURE BIDEN DID IT.

OBAMA DIDN'T DO IT.

DOES BIDEN NEED ARIZONA VOTES OR TO HAVE THE JUSTICE ISSUE WITH THE TRIBES?

WHY HE DID HE DO IT?

>> WHY DOES HE DO A LOT OF THINGS?

I HAVE NO IDEA WHY HE DID IT.

I GUESS IT'S THE LEFT WING OF HIS PARTY, CONCERNED ABOUT THE ISSUES OF INDIGENOUS RIGHTS, THAT MIGHT HAVE PUSHED HIM TO DO IT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THAT SAME WING OF THE PARTY IS NOT IN FAVOR OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AS FAR AS I KNOW, SO IT'S A PUZZLEMENT TO ME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE ARE GOING TO STAY PUZZLED AND MOVE ON TO OUR THIRD TOPIC.

HERE IN NEW YORK, THE RETAIL CANNABIS BUSINESS HAS BEEN SLOW TO GET GOING.

LAST WEEK A SECOND LEGAL SETBACK.

A JUDGE TEMPORARILY STOPPED NEW RETAIL DISPENSARIES FROM OPENING.

THAT'S BECAUSE DISABLED VETERANS WHO WANT LICENSES --- SAY IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL FOR THE STATE TO GIVE PRIORITY FOR LICENSES TO PEOPLE WITH MARIJUANA CONVICTIONS.

RIGHT NOW STORES ARE READY TO OPEN.

GROWERS AND PROCESSORS HAVE A YEAR'S WORTH OF BACKLOG WEED THEY CANNOT SELL.

ARE THESE DELAYS UNDERSTANDABLE AS A BUSINESS GETS GOING OR DID THE STATE BUNGLE IT?

>> I THINK THE STATE BUNGLED IT TO BE BLUNT.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS A VERY SIMPLE SITUATION IN THE MARKET.

STATE CREATED THIS OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT AND A LICENSING PROCESS CALLED CONDITIONAL USE ADULT DISPENSARY LICENSES.

THEY GAVE AWAY-- INITIALLY THERE WERE ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE 150 AND THEN THERE WAS A HUGE IF YOU AROR SO THEY FUROR SO THEY INCREASED IT.

THESE PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO OPEN THE DISPENSARIES BECAUSE THE DISPENSARIES THEMSELVES HAVE TO BE VETTED BY THE STATE.

THE STATE ALSO ASKED SEVERAL COUNTIES TO OPT OUT IF THEY WANT.

IF THEY DON'T WANT ANY DISPENSARIES IN THEIR JURISDICTION.

SO THAT CREATED A FURTHER KIND OF SCARCITY FOR LAND.

SO WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT THE GROWERS AND THE PROCESSORS, THEY HAD LICENSE.

THEY HAD GROWN, BY RECENT ACCOUNTS, 300,000 POUNDS OF POT THAT IS STAYING THERE.

AND THEY CAN'T SELL IT.

THERE IS A COMPLETE GLUT IN THE MARKET.

THERE IS NO LEGAL WAY TO SELL IT.

NOW THERE WERE SOME WEIRD RULES INITIALLY THAT THE VAPE SHOPS OR OTHER PEOPLE CAN GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF WEED AS A GIFT SO THAT BECAME A THING WHERE PEOPLE WERE SAYING OKAY, YEAH, HERE IS A STICKER, BY IT FOR $40 AND I'LL GIVE YOU A BAG OF WEED.

THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT.

THEY WANTED TO CRACKDOWN ON THAT.

SO YES, LACK OF A BETTERED WORD, I FEEL THIS HAS BEEN A COMPLETE BUST FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN IN THIS INDUSTRY AND THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO MORE, ESPECIALLY BY ACTUALLY ALLOWING MORE AND MORE LICENSES AND DISPENSARIES TO BE SET UP.

OTHERWISE WE ARE IN A GLUT MARKET AND THE GROWERS WILL REALLY, REALLY LOSE OUT ON THIS.

>> HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

THIS IS A MESS.

THERE ARE 24 CURRENTLY OPERATING IN THE ENTIRE STATE.

THIS IS NOW TWO AND A HALF YEARS INTO THIS.

>> OUT OF 460 SOMETHING.

>> THERE ARE 1500 ILLEGAL SHOPS IN NEW YORK CITY ALONE.

1500.

COLORADO'S GOT 825 LEGALLY OPERATING.

CALIFORNIA 774.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH US?

AND WE KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH US.

TOO MUCH BUREAUCRACY.

TOO MANY DIFFERENT AGENCIES.

HAVE YOU TO GET SIGN-OFFS FROM THE DORMITORY AUTHORITY.

WHY THE DORMITORY AUTHORITY?

YOU HAVE THE STATE HAS A FINANCIAL STAKE ITSELF IN SOME OF THESE STORES.

SO THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STORES THAT THEY HAVE A STAKE IN GET THE BEST SPOTS TO OPEN IN.

SO THE STATE IS COMPETING AGAINST THE PRIVATE PEOPLE TO OPEN THESE SHOPS.

THE STATE SHOULD GET OUT OF THIS.

THE STATE-- THIS STATE, OF ALL STATES-- GIVEN ITS SORRY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECORD, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT ON THIS SHOW FOR 20 YEARS, ITS SORRY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECORD HAS NO BUSINESS THINKING IT CAN DEVELOP THIS INDUSTRY BETTER THAN JUST UNLEASHING THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DEVELOP THIS INDUSTRY.

IT'S ONE REASON PEOPLE LEAVE NEW YORK.

IT'S THIS KIND OF REGULATION.

>> NO REGULATION LISA?

>> I MEAN, YES, IF THERE IS GOING TO BE REGULATION BUT OH MY GOSH, LEAVE IT TO NEW YORK STATE TO BURDEN AND COMPLICATE BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY INTO UTTER PARALYSIS.

I MEAN THIS MAY BE, YOU KNOW, THE PINNACLE-- >> SO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

DOES THE GOVERNOR NEED TO DO SOMETHING?

THE LEGISLATURE?

>> THIS CAN BE CRITICIZED FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END.

RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION THAT PRIORITIZED SOCIAL EQUITY GROUPS AND RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REGULATORY AUTHORITIES WHO SUBPRIORITIZED, THE GENESIS OF THE LAST LAWSUIT, BECAUSE THE LEGISLATION SEEMS TO PUT ALL THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS ON EQUAL FOOTING, BUT THE REGULATORS COME IN AND SAY NO, WE ARE GOING TO PRIORITIZE THOSE-- >> THOSE WHO HAVE CONVICTIONS OR ASSOCIATED WITH THE JUSTICE... >> ALL OF THE THINGS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED AND I JUST READING ABOUT THIS, THERE IS HUNDREDS MORE COMPLICATIONS.

>> AND ALSO QUITE SINALLY PEOPLE HAVE-- KIN CALLIE PEOPLE HAVE POINTED OUT, THIS INACTION WILL LEAD VERY LARGE WALL STREET LEVEL INVESTORS TO COME IN AND FLOOD THE MARKET AND USE THEIR POWER.

>> WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MOM AND POPS?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE STUCK.

AND THERE WAS THIS ALSO THE OTHER CASES, THE DORM APARTMENT COMMERCE ACT.

THEY GOT SUED BY THAT AND LOST SAYING THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO SHOW SUBSTANTIVE NEW YORK PRESENCE AND OTHER PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATES COULD NOT SELL HERE.

THEY LOST THAT CASE.

SO ON THE WHOLE, I DO THINK REGULATION, YES, BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE-- THERE HAS TO BE AN EMERGENCY SESSION, AS SEVERAL ACTIVIST HAVE CALLED, AN EMERGENCY SESSION, CODIFY THE LICENSE WITH THE AD HOC STUFF.

VETERANS QUITE FAIRLY HAVE SAID THEY'RE DISABLED VETERANS, THEY'RE A PROTECTED GROUP ALSO AND A DIVERSE GROUP.

U.S. MILITARY IS UP WITH OF THE MOST DIVERSE INSTITUTIONS.

SO I THINK EMERGENCY SESSION IMMEDIATELY IS IMPORTANT AND CODIFICATION OF THE LICENSING PROCESS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IT GOES TOO FAST.

IT'S TIME TO OPEN UP THE GRADEBOOK.

DAVID, WE FEED YOUR F PLEASE.

>> I ASSUME IN WEEKS PAST TOMMY TUBERVILLE HAS GOTTEN AN F FOR PUTTING HIS HOLD ON THE MILITARY PROMOTIONS IN THIS COUNTRY AND HE CERTAINLY DESERVED THE F BUT I'M BROADENING IT BECAUSE THIS HAS GONE ON TOO LONG.

MY F IS GOING TO CHUCK SCHUMER AND MITCH McCONNELL AS WELL AS TO JOE BIDEN.

THEY CAN STOP THIS.

THIS BUSINESS ABOUT THE CURTSY COURTESY OF GIVING A HOLD TO TUBERVILLE ON ALL OF THIS.

HE DOESN'T DESERVE ANY COURTESY FOR THIS HOLD.

HE IS MESSING UP MILITARY PROMOTIONS THAT NEEDS TO STOP.

THEY NEED TO STAND UP AND TELL HIM IT NEED TO STOP.

>> LISA.

>> MY F GOES TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR INADEQUATELY SUPPORTING STATES, CITIES AND LOCALITIES STRUGGLING TO ACCOMMODATE THE SURGE OF MIGRANTS AND ASYLUM SEEKERS THEY'RE RECEIVING, INCLUDING NEW YORK STATE AND ITS MUNICIPALITIES.

THE REGULATION OF IMMIGRATION IS A CLEARLY ESTABLISHED EXCLUSIVE FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITY ADD THE GOVERNORS YOU SEE IN THE HEADLINES, ALL DOULAS ARE RIGHT TO DEMAND HELP FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IN THE FORM OF BOTH MORE FEDERAL AID AND FASTER WORK AUTHORIZATIONS FOR MIGRANTS.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> MY F GOES TO THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DECISION TO REMOVE THE A.P.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES FROM THE SCHOOLS IN THE LAST MINUTE DECISION BASED ON SARA HUCKABEE SANDERS WHO SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER IN JANUARY THAT PROHIBITS CERTAIN LESSONS ON RACE AND CRITICAL RACE THEY'RE AGREE LISA AN A.

>> TO THE 65 PROJECT, A BIPARTISAN NON-PROFIT WHOSE MISSION IS TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THE LAWYERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE EFFORTS TO ADVANCE TRUMP'S 2020 ELECTION-RELATED FALSE AND FRAUDULENT LIES BY FILING ETHICS CHARGES AGAINST THEM WITH THE VARIOUS LICENSING AUTHORITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

TALK ABOUT SENDING A MESSAGE.

>> WHO IS GOING TO GET YOUR A.

>> MY A GOES TO THE SYRACUSE NATIVE JANET EPPS WHO WILL JOIN US AS SpaceX CREW TWO MISSION AT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AS A MISSION SPECIALIST.

SHE WILL CONDUCT A WIDE RANGING SET OF OPERATIONAL AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.

>> VERY GOOD.

DAVID YOUR A.

>> MY A GOES TO TOM JONES, ONE OF THE CREATORS OF THE FANTASTICKS.

THE OFF BROADWAY SHOW THAT OPENED IN 1960, RAN FOR 42 YEARS, 17,162 PERFORMANCES, INTRODUCED BARBRA STREISAND AND JERRY ORBACH TO BROADWAY AND IN THAT SHOW IS "TRY TO REMEMBER" AND I THINK THAT'S THE SONG YOU ARE HEARING UNDERNEATH THE OUT AS WE GO BACK TO BARBARA.

>> VERY GOOD.

LET ME ASK YOU QUICKLY.

YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON DEMOCRACY DOWN IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

LET THE VIEWERS KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING QUICKLY.

>> AS I TELL PEOPLE, I'M TRYING TO MAKE SOUTH CAROLINA A TWO-PARTY STATE ONCE AGAIN.

IT IS NOT.

IT IS A ONE-PARTY STATE.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE WAY DOWN AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DORCHESTER DEMOCRATIC PARTY WRITING FOR THEM AND TRYING TO HELP FIND CANDIDATES TO RUN FOR OFFICE, GIVE THEM ADVICE, STRATEGY.

ALL FOUR CANDIDATES THAT WE WORKED WITH LAST TIME LOST.

BUT WE ARE TRYING.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE TOPICS WE HAVE DISCUSSED.

THE ADDRESSES ARE ON THE SCREEN AND IF YOU MISS THE SHOW ANY FRIDAY NIGHT, TUNE US IN SATURDAY AFTERNOONS AT 5:30 OR YOU CAN FIND US ANY TIME AT WCNY.ORG.

AS DAVID SAID WHEN HE CLOSED THE SHOW EACH WEEK: "KEEP DEBATE ALIVE."

GOOD NIGHT.