ast week Georgia State Sen. Harold Jones II (D-Augusta) filed a bill (SB-254) that would remove felony charges for simple marijuana possess. This landmark bill would reduce the harm Georgia’s marijuana prohibition laws create. SEE LINKS BELOW
James Bell from the cannabis advocacy group Georgia C.A.R.E. Project said “It basically opens the door for us to begin a discussion about reform,” he said. “These felony records go on people’s records for life and are affecting people’s livelihoods and their education. “I think the big obstacle is going to be Gov. (Nathan) Deal.”
Senate Bill 254 states “Except as otherwise provided…… any person who is charged with possession of marijuana,
which possession is of one ounce or less,shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by imprisonment for a period not to exceed 12 months or a fine not to exceed $1,000.00, or both, or public works not to exceed 12 months.”
By removing the ‘less than one ounce” provision all simple possession cases would be considered a misdemeanor. Current Georgia law puts the felony amount of cannabis at more than one ounce.
SB-254 is one of several cannabis related bills pending in the 2016 session of the Georgia General Assembly which licks off on Monday January 11.
“Look at the type of resources that go into all of that. And what we’re saying is, maybe those resources can be used for other things, such as cyber-crimes, identity theft…” says Jones.