Cannabis Awareness Day is designed to bring citizens from across Georgia to the State Capitol to show support for cannabis law reform. In the process, we teach citizens how to advocate for or against a bill, how to meet their legislators (State Representatives & Senators), where to find their offices, and meet fellow activists who support the cause.

Itinerary for Monday 27th:

The event is from 9:00am to 3:00pm and a hearing on Senate Bill 105 will take place at 4:00pm.

Feel free to attend any time during the day you are available. It is recommended that you set aside at least two hours for this event if you are going to attend, so that you have time to speak with people.

Some of us will be attending the Wild Hog Supper at 5:30 at the Depot. Take into consideration the hearing at 4:00 could run past an hour. The meeting room and Depot is only a block apart.

• 9:00am:

We will meet in Room 328 in the Coverdell Legislative Office Building (CLOB) at 9am -10am for orientation. CLOB is across the street from the capitol on the south side. You will need a photo ID to enter these buildings. For those who have no experience at the Capitol, we will show you around and help you locate your legislator.

You can also do your homework and find the name and photo of your legislators. See Below.

• 1:00 Lunch:

We will gather at the Sloppy Floyd Cafeteria for lunch – lower floor. Pay your way. It has a good selection of sandwiches, salad bar, and other selections ranging from $5 to $10. A snack bar is available on  the 1st floor of the capitol. We recommend you BRING BOTTLED WATER.

Tips for Talking with Legislators:

1. Do not be negative, argumentative, or behave angrily toward the legislator. This behavior will only give them a reason to ignore your request.
2. Don’t identify yourself as being with a group or Georgia CARE Project. It may predispose the legislator to bias in regard to your statements. Identify yourself as a citizen activist. Because you are not being paid, this is completely factual.
3. You will only have a few minutes to speak. Try to be concise. Incorporate the story of someone affected personally by the laws if you can, as this speaks louder than facts sometimes.
4. Make a clear statement about how you want them to vote before you say goodbye. Don’t forget!
5. Report back to us about any conversations with legislators so we can learn and share as needed.

Legislation we support:

• House Resolution 36: Public Vote on in-state cultivation (2018)
• House Bill 65: Medical Cannabis Expansion Bill
• House Bill 465: Industrial Hemp Experimental Crop Research and Commission
• Senate Bill 105: Marijuana Decriminalization (Harm Reduction)

Legislation we oppose:

• Senate Bill 16: Reduces THC limits in Low THC Oil to 3% from 5%

Talking Points:

There are several bills we are supporting. We only want to express our support for the bill and offer a short explanation why. If they have time to engage you in conversation you can further explain why. If they oppose the bill, be polite and encourage their support for the bill. Move on.

Office to Office:

We plan on delivering an information packet to as many offices as possible. Especially to those sitting on committees that will hear our bills.

Parking (See Map):

• Parking is available in the area. It is recommended that you use the parking decks or the lot closest to the CLOB .

The Underground Atlanta Parking deck is just west of the capitol  75 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., SW Atlanta, GA 30303 . This deck is suggested if you are attending the Wild Hog Supper that evening at the Rail Road Depot – 5:30. FEE -by the hour. Pay on exit.

Pete Hackney Parking Deck 62 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE Atlanta, GA 30303. Cheapest $5 flat rate pay on entry. Follow the signs at the elevator to use the walking bridge to the Sloppy Floyd Twin Towers Building on the north side of capitol.

Liberty Plaza Parking Lot – Capitol Ave. located on the southeast side of the capitol. This may be the most convenient parking at $10 (pay station) if space is available. Look for the Flags and Liberty Bell. A flagman is usually there flagging in customers. It is just steps away from the capitol.

The post 2017 5th Annual Cannabis Awareness and Lobby Day appeared first on Georgia Campaign for Access, Reform and Education.

The post Marijuana Decrim Rally at Athens City Hall appeared first on Georgia Campaign for Access, Reform and Education.

Originally created to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the Kent State murders, the Human Rights Festival is a two-day event dedicated to promoting free speech and confronting issues that challenge human rights. Throughout the festival, activists and members of various community, national and global organizations take to the main stage to discuss important social and political topics. In between speakers, live music performances entertain the festival crowd. As always, information booths line the streets, and children’s activities and youth performances are available for our younger attendees.

The free festival is from 10 a.m.–12 a.m. on Saturday, May 2nd and 2–9 p.m. on Sunday, May 3rd.

James Bell will be speaking on Saturday May 2nd at 4:30 pm. We hope you can attend!

The post Athens Human Rights Festival – Marijuana is a Human Right appeared first on Georgia Campaign for Access, Reform and Education.

*Medical Patient to Bring Medical Marijuana to the Georgia State Capitol*

Atlanta GA: In a effort to educate the public, media and lawmakers about the use of whole plant medical marijuana, a federally approved patient will bring her medicine (cannabis) to the Georgia State Capitol for the Rally for Peace, Justice and Unity at 1:00 PM on February 10th at Liberty Plaza at the Georgia State capitol, hosted by Peachtree N.O.R.M.L. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

Elvy Musikka, 75, from Eugene OR, is one of four remaining patients approved to receive legal marijuana under the Compassionate Investigational New Drug Program, or IND. The program allows patients to use a smokable form of marijuana grown at the University of Mississippi and delivered through the mail monthly. The program is administered by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and closed to new entrants.

Elvy will bring her canister of legal pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes to Atlanta for the rally and interviews with members of the Georgia media.

Sharon Ravert, director of Peachtree N.O.R.M.L. said the goal is to show Georgia we have nothing to fear from the whole plant. In fact for many it is the only option.

“23 other states provide safe access to whole plant medical marijuana, Georgia should follow their lead and provide for in-state cultivation, whole plant medicine and we must stop treating patients like criminals”, Ravert said. “If marijuana is safe and effective for a 75 year old to treat her glaucoma for 40 years, and travel the world with, it is safe enough to enact laws that provides medicine here in Georgia.”

THC, one of the active compounds of cannabis, is used to treat glaucoma and other medical conditions. Smoking cannabis is often preferred by patients because of the immediate relief they receive. Edible products are not provided under the federal IND program.

In 1979, Georgia was one of the first states in the nation to approve medical marijuana for treatment of cancer related conditions and glaucoma.

The post News Release: GA C.A.R.E. / N.O.R.M.L. Brings Medical Marijuana to the Gold Dome… Literally appeared first on Georgia Campaign for Access, Reform and Education.

“They have pulled the wool over our eyes and pulled the rug out from under the citizens of Georgia that support medical marijuana”, said James Bell director of Georgia C.A.R.E. Project. “They have betrayed the will and desire of the people of Georgia with their political shenanigans.”

Until last Friday (Jan. 9), advocates were being told by Rep. Allen Peake that medical marijuana was on track for the 2015 legislative session. But Deal and Peake has agreed upon a back room deal undermining the efforts.

Instead of a bill allowing for cannabis cultivation and formulation of cannabis extracts in-state, the new version according to Peake and Deal would offer some form of “immunity” from prosecution for certain people able to smuggle the CBD/THC extracts from other states. This was revealed Friday in controlled public relations event staged in the governors office with a reporter from WSB TV news.

“Disappointment does not describe our feeling in this matter”, said James Bell. “The least we expected was a fair hearing on HB-1 during the session. Instead, Allen Peake gave into the demands of Gov. Deal and left the sick children to deal with their medical conditions on their own. Lawmakers look to states like Colorado for the answer but refuse to implement a similar policy.”

According to Bell, Allen Peake is setting up patients to violate federal and other state’s laws concerning possessing and transporting a controlled substance across state lines. Patients and parents would essentially become drug smugglers and only certain people would be immune from prosecution.

Georgia C.A.R.E. encourages the public to abandon Allen Peake’s efforts with HB-1 and focus attention on Senate Bill 7 authored by Sen. Curt Thompson (D).

“We know the general assembly supports medical cannabis, we know the public overwhelmingly supports it, so why did Allen Peake cave into the demands of the governor? POLITICS !”

The post Governor Nathan Deal Kills Medical Marijuana Bill appeared first on Georgia Campaign for Access, Reform and Education.

The post Morehouse College Forum on Marijuana Legalization appeared first on Georgia Campaign for Access, Reform and Education.

Here’s something new!

Today we are at a crossroad. We must determine what our focus will be over the next two years. Should we focused on cannabis medicine only? Should we advocate for criminal justice reform? Is industrial hemp an issue for us? Should we be doing it all?

As a volunteer organization we are limited to the time spent each week on reform matters. Do we want a full time advocate? Can we raise the funds needed to grow our project?

These are just some of the issues we face as we move forward.

The next 2 months will be a busy time for Georgia C.A.R.E. Hearings, meetings, forums, interviews are on the calendar.

We need your support. Can you donate? Volunteer? Do you have a talent or skill to offer?

We are organizing a “Cannabis Ambassadors” program for people like you who want to be more involved – volunteers we can count on to help organize and advocate for reform. We will have more information on this program later this month.

Take a look at what’s in store for C.A.R.E. over the next few months.

November 12: Medical Cannabis Hearing – Augusta Ga. At Georgia Regents University 1:00 pm -3:00 pm
November 20: Public Forum – with James Bell – Morehouse University – Atlanta – 6:30 pm
November 13: Taping – “Doc Talk with Dr. Jeffrey Gallups” on WGST 640 AM – Airs 8:00 am Sundays
December 3: Final medical cannabis hearing – Georgia State Capitol – 1:00 pm
January 11: Wild Hog Supper – Georgia Railroad Depot – 5:30 – 7:30 pm – Food Bank Fundraiser
January 12: Start of Legislative Session – Georgia General Assembly – Gold Dome Atlanta
January 15: Forum on Cannabis Re-Legalization Jeff Maxwell Library – 5:00 – 6:30pm Augusta GA

These are just some of the events coming up over the next few months.

Georgia C.A.R.E. will continue to be a voice for reform and reason. With your partnership we can change the laws and bring compassion and justice to the state of Georgia.

For Compassion, Freedom and Justice
James Bell – Founder / Director Georgia C.A.R.E.

The post From Georgia C.A.R.E. Director James Bell appeared first on Georgia Campaign for Access, Reform and Education.

“Our goal is to make cannabis reform a real issue to students. This is not a pipe dream. It’s a real effort run by real people who want real change. We are not criminals and the citizen of Georgia should not be treated as criminals”, Bell said.

This is Athens C.A.R.E.’s second year on campus and the movement continues to grow. More events are planned in the future

The post UGA Cannabis Forum a big success! appeared first on Georgia Campaign for Access, Reform and Education.

“Not only were the families put in jeopardy, but the police officers were also put in jeopardy because they had no idea who was in the home,” said James Bell with the Georgia Taxpayers Alliance.

It all comes after 19-month-old Bou Bou Phonesavanh was critically injured in the failed drug raid at a Habersham County home last week.

“It’s the duty of the parents to make sure the child’s in a safe environment, and if they’re in any kind of environment where drugs are involved, then obviously, they’re not safe and if the child wasn’t in the home in the first place it would never have happened,” said Matthew Cleveland, a protestor who supports the actions of the deputies.

The deputies used a tactic where they do not knock before entering suspected drug homes.

Those against such tactics said the policies should be changed.

The post Georgia CARE director holds rally for child injured in botched raid appeared first on Georgia Campaign for Access, Reform and Education.

A Rally for Truth & Justice for Baby BouBou
June 1, 2014 – Atlanta Georgia: In the aftermath of the botched raid that left a child severely injured by a “multi-jurisdictional task force” in Habersham County Georgia, a coalition of citizens and organizations will rally in support of the family and call for state and federal investigations into the conduct of law enforcement officials.
James Bell, a political activist, has notified Habersham County and the City of Clarkesville, GA that citizens will rally in the courthouse park seeking a “redress of grievances” concerning the raid and tactics used.
Where: Habersham County Courthouse Gazebo – Clarkesville, Georgia
When: Saturday June 7 – 11:00am – 1:00 pm
Why: To demonstrate in support of the child and the family and let the world know the citizens of Georgia care about life, liberty and peace in our communities.
“Obviously citizens of Georgia and the nation have been shocked by the actions of a drug task force that left a baby critically injured”, Bell said. “The fact that the task force had no idea who was inside the home or where the suspect was at the time is most disturbing.” Bell continues – “The War on Drugs is a failure and the results are the erosion of our rights as American citizens. The militarization of law enforcement has created a situation where citizens are told to accept the collateral damage in the name of fighting the war. Tossing explosive devices into homes when they have no idea who is inside is unacceptable. We want accountability, we want answers, and we want justice for the child and their family.”
Bell said Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell’s interview with an Atlanta TV station, where he attempted to justify their actions, was embarrassing and left more questions than answers. The Sheriff’s assertion that no investigation into this matter is needed is suspicious.
Purpose of the Rally:
1. To call for a state and federal investigation into this tragedy to determine the facts and hold those responsible accountable.
2. To call for the abolition of “no-knock” warrants except where a life and death situation exists.
3. To call for an end to the War on Drugs as we know it and treat drug use as a health issue not a police matter.
4. To allow the citizens touched by this event to peaceably express their concerns.

The post Habersham Co. baby hurt in drug raid sparks protest Saturday appeared first on Georgia Campaign for Access, Reform and Education.