This is a very long page containing 3 proposed bills
(1) NEW!! Proposed Decriminalization Bill making possession of less than an ounce non-arrestable and non-jail. Civil penalty of $300 imposed per violation. Violators under 18 must attend drug awareness class and parents are notified. Failure to pay civil penalty can result in increased fine and/or arrest for contempt of court. Fine money goes to the city/county where violation occurred. Modeled on Massachusetts bill (drafted by MPP) already in force.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 of Chapter 13 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Conditional Discharge for Possession of Controlled Substances as First Offense, so as to provide for a system of citation and collection of civil penalties for the possession by adults of less than one ounce of marijuana; to provide for drug awareness education for offenders under 18 and parental notification; to provide for the continued felony prosecution of persons possessing marijuana in quantities over one ounce; to provide for the continued prosecution of all other laws relating to marijuana, including Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, Possession with the Intent to Distribute, and Trafficking in Marijuana; to provide an effective date; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1
This Act consists of five sections which together shall be known as “The Georgia Marijuana Control and Taxation Act of 2011.”
SECTION 2
Subsection (b) of Code Section 16-13-2 of Article 1 of Chapter 13 of Title 16 of the Code of Georgia is hereby stricken and replaced with the following subsection (b):
“(b)(1) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, possession of one ounce or less of Marijuana shall only be a civil offense, subjecting an offender who is 18 years of age or older to a civil penalty of $300.00 and forfeiture of the Marijuana, but not to any other form of criminal or civil punishment or disqualification. An offender under the age of 18 shall be subject to the same forfeiture and civil penalty provisions, provided he or she completes a drug awareness program which meets the criteria set forth in Section (2) of this subsection. The parents or legal guardian of any offender under the age of 18 shall be notified in accordance with Section (2) of this subsection of the offense. If an offender under the age of 18 fails, within 90 days of the offense, to complete both a drug awareness program and the required community service, the civil penalty may be increased pursuant to Section (2) of this subsection to $1000.00 and the offender and his or her parents or legal guardian(s) shall be jointly and severally liable to pay that amount. Violation of this subsection shall not be deemed an “offense” as defined in Code Section 35-3-30(7), and the Attorney General shall have no power to designate a violation hereof as an “offense” under Code Section 35-3-33(a)(1)(A)(v). “Criminal Justice Agencies” as defined in Code Section 35-3-30(3), shall have no duty under Code Section 35-3-36(a) or (b) or otherwise to furnish any data to the Georgia Crime Information Center relating to any violation of this subsection (b). It shall not be the responsibility of the Georgia Crime Information Center to collect any data relating to violations of this subsection. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to repeal or modify existing laws, ordinances or bylaws, regulations, personnel practices or policies concerning the operation of motor vehicles or watercraft while under the influence of Marijuana, possession of more than one ounce of Marijuana, or selling, possessing with the intent to distribute, manufacturing, or trafficking in Marijuana.”
“(b)(2) An offender of section (1) of this subsection under the age of 18 is required to complete a drug awareness program at a drug abuse treatment and education program holding a valid current license from the Department of Community Health within 90 days of the offense. The drug awareness program must provide at least 4 hours of classroom instruction and 10 hours of community service. The Department of Community Health shall classify and authorize an appropriate program, the subject matter of which shall be specific to the use and abuse of controlled substances with particular emphasis on early detection and prevention of abuse of Marijuana. In addition to the civil penalties authorized therein, a violation of section (1) of this subsection may serve as the basis for delinquency proceedings for persons under the age of 17 at the time of their offense.”
SECTION 3
Title 16, Chapter 13, Article 1 of the Code of Georgia is amended by inserting a new subsection (d) to read as follows:
“(d) (1) Violations of subsection (b) of this Code Section shall not subject an offender to arrest or incarceration; however, nothing in this subsection shall prevent the prosecution of any offender for giving a false name, obstruction of a law enforcement officer, failure to appear, or contempt of court. Each offender shall be issued a written notice or citation which shall include the date and time of the violation; the location of the violation; the amount of the civil monetary penalty imposed; the date by which the civil monetary penalty shall be paid; a description of the charge; information advising the offender of the manner and time in which liability as alleged in the citation may be contested in court; and a warning that failure to pay the civil monetary penalty or to contest liability in a timely manner shall waive any right to contest liability and result in an arrest warrant and further penalties for contempt of court.”
“(2) In addition to existing notice requirements, each political subdivision of this State under whose authority a citation for violating this subsection has issued to a person under 18 shall be responsible for sending to the parents or legal guardians of said person: a copy of the citation, a list of nearby licensed drug awareness programs, and instructions for providing proof of compliance. If an offender under the age of eighteen, a parent or legal guardian fails to prove compliance or contest liability as directed within 90 days of the relevant offense, the Clerk of Court shall notify the offender, parent or guardian and the officer who issued the original citation of a hearing to show cause why the civil penalty should not be increased to $1,000.00.”
SECTION 4
Title 16, Chapter 13, Article 1 of the Code of Georgia is amended by inserting a new subsection (e) to read as follows:
“(e) All civil penalties imposed under subsections (b) and (d) of this Code Section shall inure to the municipality or county where the offense occurred.”
SECTION 5
This law shall become effective on July 1, 2011.
(2) A bill based on the original California Medical Marijuana ballot initiative creating a system for dispensing cannabis to qualified patients and protecting them from criminal liability.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 5 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Use of Marijuana for Treatment of Cancer and Glaucoma, so as to provide that seriously ill Georgians shall have the right to obtain and use Marijuana for medical purposes where that medical use is deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician who has determined that the person’s health would benefit from the use of marijuana in the treatment of cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine, or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief; to provide for the continued prosecution of persons possessing marijuana for illicit purposes; to provide an effective date; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1
Article 5 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Use of Marijuana for Treatment of Cancer and Glaucoma is amended by adding a new Code Section to read as follows:
“43-34-127
(a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Compassionate Use Act of 2011.”
(b)(1) The people of the State of Georgia hereby find and declare that the purposes of the Compassionate Use Act of 2011 are as follows:
(A) To ensure that seriously ill Georgians have the right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes where that medical use is deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician who has determined that the person’s health would benefit from the use of marijuana in the treatment of cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine, or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief.
(B) To ensure that patients and their primary caregivers who obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes upon the recommendation of a physician are not subject to criminal prosecution or sanction.
(C) To encourage the federal and state governments to implement a plan to provide for the safe and affordable distribution of marijuana to all patients in medical need of marijuana.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede legislation prohibiting persons from engaging in conduct that endangers others, nor to condone the diversion of marijuana for nonmedical purposes.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no physician in this state shall be punished, or denied any right or privilege, for having recommended marijuana to a patient for medical purposes.
(d) Code Sections 16-13-30(j) and 16-13-2(b), relating to the Purchase, Possession, Manufacture, Distribution, Or Sale Of Controlled Substances Or Marijuana, Code Section 16-13-31(c) relating to Trafficking in Marijuana, and Code Section 16-13-30.5(a), relating to possession with intent to manufacture marijuana, shall not apply to a patient, or to a patient’s primary caregiver, who possesses or cultivates marijuana for the personal medical purposes of the patient upon the written or oral recommendation or approval of a physician.
(e) For the purposes of this section, “primary caregiver” means the individual designated by the person exempted under this section who has consistently assumed responsibility for the housing, health, or safety of that person.”
SECTION 2.
Code Section 43-34-126 shall be amended to read as follows: “Patient participants in the program are immune from state prosecution for possession of marijuana as authorized by this article and under the program established in this article. A person authorized under this program shall not possess an amount of marijuana in excess of the amount prescribed under the authority of this article. The amount prescribed shall be maintained in the container in which it was placed at the time the prescription was filled. Physician, pharmacy, and pharmacist participants in the program are immune from state prosecution for possession, distribution, and any other use of marijuana, which use is authorized such persons by this article. Any such possession, distribution, or other use not authorized by this article or subsections (c), (d) or (e) of Code Section 43-34-127 shall be enforced and punished as provided in Chapter 13 of Title 16, relating to controlled substances and dangerous drugs, and Chapter 4 of Title 26, relating to pharmacists and pharmacies.”
SECTION 3.
If any provision of this measure or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the measure that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this measure are severable.
SECTION 4.
This Act shall become effective July 1, 2011
SECTION 5.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
(3) A second (more conservative) proposed Bill, leaving marijuana illegal but providing an affirmative defense (exception) for terminally ill and AIDS patients who have a doctor’s recommendation and were not using marijuana in the presence of children or in public:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Physicians, Acupuncture, Physician Assistants, Cancer and Glaucoma Treatment, Respiratory Care, Clinical Perfusionists, and Orthotics and Prosthetics Practice, so as to provide for an affirmative defense to criminal prosecution for patients using marijuana for the treatment of a terminal illness or HIV/AIDS with a doctor’s written recommendation; to limit such affirmative defense to possession of less than three (3) ounces for personal medical purposes; to limit such defense to possession in private and away from children, to provide an effective date; and to repeal conflicting laws.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article 5 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to use of marijuana for treatment of cancer and glaucoma, is amended by adding Code Section 43-34-127 as follows:
“43-34-127. Affirmative defense to prosecution for possession of marijuana by terminally ill persons and AIDS patients.
(a) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution for violation of Code Sections 16-13-30(j) that the person:
(1) Was, at the time of possession of marijuana, suffering from a terminal illness or AIDS, and was personally using marijuana to alleviate physical pain and suffering;
(2) Was in possession of less than three (3) ounces of marijuana for personal use only;
(3) Was using marijuana for medical reasons upon the written recommendation of a licensed physician; and
(4) Was not using marijuana in the presence of children under the age of eighteen, or in a public place.
(b) No law enforcement agency in this state shall have any civil liability resulting from the lawful arrest of any person to whom this affirmative defense may apply.
(c) Nothing in this Code Section shall be interpreted as decriminalizing or legalizing recreational marijuana use, or preventing the enforcement and application of any part of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act in any case anywhere in this state, except as specifically stated herein.”
SECTION 2.
The effective date of this law shall be July 1, 2010, and it shall apply to any prosecutions in progress on that date and all future prosecutions.
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
Click here to view a comprehensive medical cannabis distribution bill based on Alabama’s proposed bill.
Which approach do you think is better? Or would you rather see us go all out for full legalization in Georgia? Leave your comments below – I assure you we read them!
-
I understand the desire to protect mmj patients but I didn’t see a safe way for patients to have access whether the ability to grow own, or with a caregiver, or dispensaries/collectives. Is that something that can be added to this bill or does that have to be totally separate? I think its just as important to protect the right of the patient to safe procurement as well as possession.
-
Why would we not follow along in the 13 states that HAVE legalized mm? why reinvent the wheel, or “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
-
I agree with Christopher Clark on this. There needs to be something in writing on how a medical user can go about getting their medicine(growing). As a glaucoma patient, I feel that there needs to be some changes made in Georgia fast. I have yet to find a doctor who could prescribe me a government(another word for drug dealer) approved drug that gives me any relief. I think a person should at a minimal be able to have 4 ounces of dry medicine and 4 Adult Female Plants at one time
-
I agree that our ultimate goal should be straight up legalization. Realistically, on the medical front, I agree that 3-4 ounces and 4-6 female plants is sufficient for treatment, better for the environment, reducing crime, and safer for patients. A “phase two” bill will be posted soon. I am wary of the dispensary businesses that are springing up in CO and CA etc – they are easy targets for opponents of decriminalization bc of abuse that sometimes happens. If people are just allowed to grow in private that would be better. It’s hard to figure out a reasonable path to legalization that doesn’t mean some asshole getting rich and limiting supply.
-
Ideally this would lay out a system to procure your legal mm. But political reality in Georgia is that any such system would doom the bill. Hell getting even this bill passed will take some hard work and money.
This is a good start and it’s a bill that has a fighting chance.
Let’s support it!
-
Uh duh, why didn’t I think of this sooner? Because we are spread out in GA, the use of the internet is vital to our efforts. I think it should be a club goal for us to have at least 1 person in every district in GA. If there are no persons in a given district, we will find some. The internet is a very powerful tool and can be used to recruit others to the cause easily. It should be the goal of that person(s) to persistently contact their rep about the MJ issue. If they do not support it and will not change their views, then find a competing politician in that area who will and we will show support to the politician in favor of our views. If we get people in every single district sending thousands of letters to their reps, I think we will increase the chance of speed in GA.
These letters, phone calls, and internet searches take only a few minutes a day. I usually spend less than 5 minutes a day on it, but I get so many letters sent out. It is hard to send to reps outside your district, so we need to catalogue members who will help in this effort and organize our efforts to try to get a better/faster/more desired result not to mention more dispersed all over GA.
Also, I think hemp farming is going to be a good entrance strategy to get GA politicians on board (because we are 1 of only 2 states that still doesn’t allow the sale of alcohol on Sundays). You know GA politicians will have to be spoon fed this in baby steps on a long journey to re-legalization (in any form that may come). This state is famous for procrastinating until its too late to make any real money off of something b/c everyone else has already done it and they all have a foothold in the market. Farming is vital to GA’s economy and with GA’s land volume and excellent growing climate, hemp farming could really boost our employment and revenue. Politicians listen to farmers and usually try to appease them in GA.
We also need an online place (facebook, chat room, web page, whatever)to do this so the information will be available to all of us and it can be organized so we can deliver efforts where needed. I WILL GLADLY VOLUNTEER TO HELP MAINTAIN SUCH A FORUM!!!! I work from home and all my work is done via the internet, so that is something that I am basically doing already. I am pretty good at data mining too.
I am in District 1 Rep Jack Kingston. He does not support MMJ, MJ, or hemp farming. However, since the recent announcement from Eric Holder and the American Medical Association, his response letters have changed slightly in that he might actually be willing to entertain this provided the govt wants to back off. He does support keeping the govt out of citizens lives (which always baffles me that they would want the govt to tell me what I can put in my body and get between me and my doctor). He is a big fan of Marinol and used to be an insurance exec (which explains to me why he doesn’t want a public health care option). His biggest opponent does support MJ however will not be running next election.
The GA Senators Isakson Website: http://isakson.senate.gov ATL: (770) 661-0999 DC: (202) 224-3643 and Chambliss Website: http://chambliss.senate.gov ATL: (770) 763-9090 DC: (202) 224-3521 respond through email and usually very fast. Their offices pick up the phones on the first ring.
It took me literally 10 minutes to find all this info through the web, make a couple phone calls, and send out a few emails. I send them letters weekly via http://norml.org and http://mpp.org. My responses from Jack Kingston are always written snail mail. It is so fast and easy and so many people can make a difference. There are a lot of important bills out there that your politicians want to hear from you on. I just wanted to demonstrate to ya’ll how easy this can be and require less than 10 minutes a week to do. I cannot do this alone and my impact is limited to my district b/c of the way voting is done. I need other districts. Every email and phone call equals thousands of voices to politicians. We will show all the old southern bible belt republicans that we will not stand for the injustice of prohibition any longer and our voices will be heard.
-
I’m down for growing my own. Got a room ready to go already, just need the legislation
-
The consensus at the meeting last Sat was to also promote a bill that decriminalizes personal use amounts so that nobody can get arrested for less than an ounce and cannot be sent to jail. I’m gonna draft such a bill and post it here. Chris, I would love to have your help with either this site or some other online forum for intelligent discussion about proposed legislation. Pls email to ganorml@gmail.com your private email so we can talk.
-
So this new bill is just to improve the old MMJ laws here in georgia?? How come only aids, cancer and glaucoma patients only get relief when there are other illnesses that MMJ can treat?
Wisconsin has added PTSD to their list of illnesses/disabilities to treat on it’s proposed bill. Also there needs to be a bill that CLEARLY states how a med patient is able to obtain their meds. If you want a good guidline to follow to write up the laws in Georgia, check out OMMP in Oregon. They have one of the best programs right now. Patients need to be able to grow their own meds, and the laws need to be clear on how dispenseries/compassionate club will be operated so that we don’t run into problems in the future of the law not being clear enough, because that is what is happening in CA right now.
Decrim is not the answer in my opinion, med patients need protection from jail time! And lets not limit who can get a med card to just aids, cancer and glaucoma!
-
COMING SOON: a draft bill for medical marijuana in Georgia legalizing possession and manufacture of recognized medical use amounts and dispensaries. ALSO a bill making non-violent misdemeanors including possession of less than an ounce NON-ARRESTABLE and NON-JAILABLE offenses. This would make getting busted just like a speeding ticket and allow a “tax” on marijuana possession. Ultimately, of course, we want nothing less than full legalization.
-
We need folks in the 4th, 9th, 11th, and 12th districts. All of the current bills are in the House Judiciary Commitee and the House of Energy and Commerce. These are the GA legislators that can actually vote on them. I am in District 1 and my Congressman is on the House Appropriations Committee, so it is useless to mail him, bc he can’t vote on it.
You can use a fast and easy email template service via http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/ to ask them to support House Bill 3939, House Bill 2835, House Bill 1866, and House Bill 2943
If you are in the 4th District: DeKalb County, Rockdale County, or Gwinnett County Contact Rep Hank Johnson at http://hankjohnson.house.gov/index.html
If you are in the 9th District: Dade County, Walker County, Catoosa County, Whitfield County, Murray County, Gordon County, Fannin County, Pickens County, Gilmer County, Union County, Dawson County, Lumpkin County, Forsyth County, Hall County, or White County contact Rep Nathan Deal at http://www.house.gov/deal/map.shtml
If you are in the 11th District: Bartow County, Carroll County, Chatooga County, Cobb County, Floyd County, Gordon County, Haralson County, Paulding County, or Polk County contact Rep Phil Gingrey at http://gingrey.house.gov/
If you are in the 12th District: Baldwin County, Bullock County, Burke County, Candler County, Chatham County, Effingham County, Emanual County, Evens County, Glascock County, Hancock County, Jefferson County, Jenkins County, Johnson County, Montgomery County, Richmond County, Screven County, Taliaferro County, Tattnal County, Toombs County, Treutlen County, Warren County, or Washington County contact Rep John Barrow at http://www.barrow.house.gov/
All Ga Residents: Contact your Senators Saxby Chambliss (202) 224-3521 and Johnny Isakson (202) 224-3643 and urge them to support Senate Bill 714 which will be voted on Dec 24th!
-
Christopher,
I’m in the 9th district and can tell you that Deal is brain-dead against any legalization. Hopefully with him running for governor (McBerry is our friend), someone will get elected in the 9th that is a little more open-minded…
Harry
I gave you my card at the meeting, e-mail me about the message forum.
-
You know GA will never go for this bill. I have rheumatiod arthritis, arthritis of the neck and spine and a cyst on my spine which I have had over 10 back injections and none of them have helped. I have also been diagnosed 2yrs. ago with firbomyalgia. I am currently awaiting my disibility. I have tried every pill out there for the fibro. cant take any due to the side effects. I tried all the pain pills and currently taking 2 of the strongest I can take. I get some relief. But I’m still in constant pain 24/7. I will have to have a knee replacement in the next year. I may not have cancer or glaucoma or AIDS, but if they had deal with pain on a daily basis like I do, they would have MJ leagalized yesterday. I hope that GA will not stay in the 18th century and realized that MJ has benefits for those that have chronic pain.
-
I have over 900 signatures on a petition if it helps at all… I know that is a small number compared to how many people are in Georgia, but maybe you can do something with it. Click on my name in this post for the link to the petition.
-
Chris, I am on the 9th district. I have several people up here in Lumpkin and Dawson that are willing to go with my to a meeting with our new guy, Tom Graves. I have meet him several times in the last few months very casually, so I am hoping it will not be to hard to get in to talk business with him. I will look towards a meeting prior to our next meeting at Mellow Mushroom, but I highly doubt that will happen. I have been talking for years to local Lumpkin politician, many sympathize but will not support it in public. I have recently found several judges and lawyers that are willing to atleast have a rational discussion about re-legalization. I am also working on finding a location to have a few speakers come to talk to some of these Bible belt neighbors of mine. Would love to have Norml, L.E.A.P. and several other groups involved. I really want to do this in a church environment. I am a christian and I just don’t understand why other christians would want to continue prohibition. WWJD? I am so proud to be part of this movement. Lets do it! Talk to everyone!! Let me know if I can help with anything else. See you on July 31st!!
-
Both bills are very lacking. First if Cannabis is of medical value in any sort of form, it should be moved to Schedule II. Second, nothing is done about legal supplies of cannabis.
To see a comprehensive bill that covers all the bases, look at
http://www.alternatethoughts.com/Georgia_MJ_bill.pdf
Now that’s what we need in Georgia….
Harry
-
Make sure that it is decriminalized first. This would be a huge benefit to all parties involved.
-
Chris I am in the 20th district and have been contacting my official weekly about her stance on the bill above. If there is anything else I can do please let me know! I have been sending letters to the state reps as well as anyone else I can in the GA General Assembly! I am dedicated to help in whatever way I possibly can! Please contact me at Abrown32623@yahoo.com if you have any information that you belieive could help me or If you know of anything else I could do to help out. It will be decriminalized and medicinally available and Im not going to give up or stop until I can have available the only medicine that I can find to work for me…. Also thank you everyone for your support as well! Together we can and will achieve our goals! Keep up the good work!
Austin
-
Hello;I will be joing Georgia Norml in about a week. I am retired so I have lots of time to spare. Would very much like to here from Christopher Clark,have great computer skills to assist in Internet promotions. I live in District 11 congress;District-31 GA Senate;District-017 GA House. Let`s get down on it!
Sam Medina 941-809-7800 I live in Dallas GA.
PS the bills look great,gives us a triple threat approach. -
Hi i wikipedia’d my district (liberty county) and found that i am in the 1st. I am relatively new to politics/voting/ and most other things dealing with politicians. I AM however ready to help in any way possible. If anyone can keep me updated on future bills, or who i can email/write to bring about awareness (political wise) i am connected to military members on fort stewart, and i have many outlets to hand out flyers ie about future bills to support
-
NEVER in five thousand years has anybody ever had an overdose of pot and also has been used for medusinal perposes for just as many years, so yes it should be legalized!
-
I would love any bill for Medical Marijuana in Georgia to go thur. I have severe Rheumatoid Arthritis, Raynaud’s Syndrome, OsteoArthritis, Fatigue, and they think I have MS also. I have been on pain pills for the last couple years and they don’t help much. Marijuana did help me get thur the day without severe pain, but it is illegal so I am scared to get or keep it. I don’t want to go to jail. I would sign anything to pass this law in Georgia and pay a yearly fee to get a medical card to keep from going to jail and have relief from pain without getting hooked on pills. I smoked marijuana in my youth and know for a fact it is not addictive. I quit when I had my children and didn’t smoke but a couple times after I started having so much pain.
-
wats up blogger. you have put up a good blog and i actually enjoyed reading your posts. i wonder how you will know all this stuff. i was impressed when i saw your blog. what blogging platform did you use for this blog. i’m using wordpress and i find it a bit difficult. are you utilizing wordpress too? if yes can you tell me about the themes and plugins you use for your blog. i would be grateful if you assist me on this.
-
Ok, I used to be a moderator for 420 magazine and my primary gole was to bring awareness to people about legalization and to let the unaware know that their IS hope for cannabis users, medical & recreational alike! I read an artical in the High Times website once and it truly hit a nerve with me, I cant remember the writers name but, he said it best, when he posed the qusetion & the answer at the same time; “why is marijuana still illegal? BECAUSE PEOPLE DON’T ASK FOR IT TO BE LEGAL, PERIOD!” He was exactly right on the money because the people of Georgia (and other states) have been kept under such a tight militant thumb that they are truly terrified of law enforcment and their “throw your ass in prison” attitude towards the people they are supposed to “protect & serve” instead they overfill our prisons with nonviolent people who were doing little more than posessing plant matter that has NO track record of causing death to ANYONE! EVER! Do’nt believe me? Look it up! Now that being said, here is what we do… Go in to the activest portion of this site, find your state rep’s and send in that letter! Then talk to EVERYONE you know and get them to do the same…I don’t mean just a couple of people, I mean EVERYONE! Because this is EVERYONE’S problem. I would highly recomend to not only send the prewritten request for legalization but, write to them in your own words how you feel as well as any horror stories you may have as you might just strike a nerve. One thing I find with the people I talk to about this is that they think they will be investigated if they send a letter like this but, they need to know that they are well within their constitutional rights to express concerns of ANY kind to their rep’s as well as it is unlawful for them to retaliate against your freedom of speach in any way! The thing I like to express to people is that they sould’nt complain if they are’nt willing to help change the current situation…this “sit back and let the other guy do everything” aint gonna’ fly! Just think about it, if EVERY canna user, I mean EVERY SINGLE one of us in Georgia, or the whole country for that matter, would just make an effort to do something about our current lawmakers decisions they would have no choice but to do as they are told, or be voted out…remember, they work for us and we don’t do dictatorship in the USA!
24 comments
Comments feed for this article
Trackback link: http://georgianorml.org/proposed-medical-marijuana-law/trackback/