Category: Marijuana Legalization Issues

    Need Legal Advice? The Cohen Law Firm

    If you’ve been charged with a crime, you are at a crossroad. One path leads to prison time, large fines and a lifetime of social scrutiny; the other offers a chance at freedom. The choice is clear: you need The Cohen Law Firm.Located in Atlanta, Georgia, The Cohen Law Firm provides strong, dedicated criminal defense to individuals facing everything from drug offenses and gun crimes to violent crimes such as murder.

    DeKalb County Criminal Law Attorneys

    Attorneys Andy Cohen and Jill Polster are experienced, aggressive criminal defense lawyers. Polster, a former prosecutor, and Cohen, a career defense attorney, met trying a murder case against each other. They have extensive experience trying everything from misdemeanor drug cases to even the most complicated high-profile capital crimes. This experience gives the firm special insight into the inner workings of the state’s criminal justice system. We have the experience to anticipate the prosecution’s every move and to proactively develop a winning defense strategy.

    Our years of criminal defense experience paired with prosecutorial experience means there is no case our attorneys haven’t encountered and no case our firm can’t handle.

    At The Cohen Law Firm, we understand the fear and stress caused by a criminal charge. Our attorneys personally invest their time, attention and resources to get our clients the most favorable result possible. We do everything in our power to help our clients defeat their criminal charges.

    At The Cohen Law Firm, we fight for your rights, your freedom and your future. Our attorneys have a reputation for being fierce trial attorneys. Prosecutors throughout the state know we aren’t afraid of a courtroom battle and will do whatever is necessary to protect our clients.

    Because we are known as lawyers eager to take our clients’ cases to trial, we are often able to highlight weaknesses in the state’s case and use those weaknesses to negotiate the most favorable plea terms possible. While we always consider beneficial plea agreements, we will not compromise our clients’ rights for an “easy deal.” If a plea bargain is not in your best interests, we will go to trial to protect your rights.

    If You Have Questions, We Have Answers

    At The Cohen Law Firm, we know criminal charges aren’t confined to the 9-to-5. Our attorneys are available to help you when you need it most. If you have been charged with a crime, contact us for a free consultation. Our experienced legal team will answer your most pressing questions.

      New medical marijuana bill offered in Georgia

      Some lawmakers in Georgia have become frustrated with the way the medical marijuana bill (HB-885) has developed. In response State Senator Curt Thompson (D- 5) has filed SB-432 (Controlled Substance Therapeutic Relief Act) . The bill appears to address many of the issues raised in HB 885. While this bill was filed to late in the session to be considered, it can give guidance for medical marijuana legislation in 2015. Georgia CARE will read the bill carefully and report the findings.

      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 repeal provisions

      relating to use of marijuana for treatment of cancer and glaucoma and provide for medical

      use of marijuana; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide

      for definitions; to provide for additional debilitating conditions; to provide for controlled

      substances therapeutic relief, limitations, and rule making; to provide for registration of

      marijuana dispensaries; to provide for registration of qualifying patients and designated

      caregivers; to provide for the issuance, revocation, suspension, and expiration of registry

      identification cards; to provide for facility restrictions; to provide for dispensary locations;

      to provide for dispensing marijuana for medical use; to provide for a verification system; to

      provide for notices and civil penalties; to provide for annual reporting; to provide for

      confidentiality; to provide for presumptions; to prohibit discrimination under certain

      circumstances; to provide for enforcement; to provide for fingerprinting; to amend Chapter

      15 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to excise tax on marijuana

      and controlled substances, so as to repeal and reserve provisions providing tax excise

      exemption for medical marijuana; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws;

      and for other purposes.

        New Federal Guidelines for Banks and Legal Marijuana Biz

        WASHINGTON — The Obama administration Friday provided new guidelines to the banking industry aimed at making it easier for state-legalized marijuana businesses to have greater access to financial institutions.

        In separate advisories issued by the Treasury and Justice departments, the administration’s action follows concerns expressed last month by Attorney General Eric Holder that legal marijuana operations were dealing largely in cash because banks feared that any relationship with the dealers put them at risk of prosecution under existing federal drug and money laundering statutes.

        Twenty states and Washington, D.C., have legalized marijuana for medical use. Two of those states — Colorado and Washington — also have legalized marijuana for recreational use.