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Marijuana Policy in the US (view source)
Revision as of 16:00, 10 November 2015
, 16:00, 10 November 2015no edit summary
Despite the fact that a medical necessity defense has been established by Florida case law, patients remain at risk of being arrested and jailed because legislators have yet to enact a medical marijuana law.
*'''Georgia'''
https://www.mpp.org/states/georgia/
Georgia’s low-THC oil medical cannabis law moves forward
Last update: October 5, 2015
'''Haleigh’s Hope Act''', which allows some seriously ill patients to possess oils containing CBD and small amounts of THC, became law in April 2015. According to news reports, hundreds of patients in the state are now part of the state registry. Unfortunately, the law leaves the vast majority of medical marijuana patients behind. In addition, the law falls short because there is no legal way for cannabis to be produced, refined, or distributed within Georgia, leaving families with no in-state access. Several have uprooted so that at least two family members could establish residency in Colorado, which allows in-state access. For a quick look at the law, take a look at our summary here.
Fortunately, the governor established a commission to look at aspects of the law, and the sponsor of Haleigh’s Hope Act, Rep. Allen Peake, is its chairman. He and other members of the commission are considering ways the law may be improved, and the commission will take those suggestions back to the governor before the end of the year. In addition, Rep. Michael Gravely recently signaled he will present legislation during next year’s session that would establish a workable system to cultivate, process, and distribute cannabis oil under the state’s low-THC program.
Please thank your legislators for taking this modest first step, and encourage them to support a more comprehensive medical marijuana program.
'''ACLU study shows Georgia’s harsh marijuana laws result in racially disproportionate arrest rates'''
Georgia has some of the most punitive marijuana laws in the country, with possession of a mere two ounces being punishable by up to 10 years in prison. It’s clear these laws have not been successful, and new evidence shows that Georgia’s laws are not being evenly enforced.
A 2013 study by the American Civil Liberties Union found that although blacks and whites use marijuana at nearly identical rates, blacks in Georgia are 3.7 times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana possession.
Please take a moment to send a letter to your legislators asking them to reduce the penalty for possession of marijuana to a civil fine or ask them to end marijuana prohibition entirely.
