Tag: Marijuana legalization

    Why Isn’t Georgia Voting on Cannabis Legalization?

    We’ve received questions from supporters asking why Georgians don’t see anything on the ballot about cannabis legalization in 2016. You’ve also asked what has to happen in order for Georgians to be able to vote on these issues.

    We are so glad to hear these questions! They are the exact questions anyone who wants to see legal reforms should ask, and we’re here to answer them.

    The answers, which we have explained below, are why we do the work that we do, and why we need your support.

    Below are answers to these questions along with explanations so you can understand exactly how things work in Georgia. We’ve taken some of this info from Ballotpedia, which is also a good source to check out for political info on Georgia and elsewhere.

    Q: Why isn’t there anything on the ballot about cannabis legalization?

    A: Because Georgia legislators decided against including it on the ballot.

    In Georgia, “the legislature can put a proposed amendment on the ballot upon a two-thirds majority vote in both the legislative chambers.”

    This means the Georgia State Senate and the Georgia State House of Representatives must both vote on including the amendment on the ballot. AND at least two-thirds (2/3) of both chambers must approve the decision in order for it to be included.

    The voting does not rely upon a simple majority of 51% but a “supermajority” rule of two-thirds. That means 120 votes in the House and 38 votes in the Senate.

    Q: What about the ballot measure that was proposed in 2015?

    A: The ballot measure did not pass both chambers in 2015. It was not reintroduced in 2016.

    Senator Curt Thompson of District 5 introduced Senate Resolution 6 on November 24, 2014. This submitted the ballot for consideration in the 2015-2016 session. It did not pass both chambers and was not reintroduced after its failure to pass.

    It can be reintroduced again, but it will require support from more legislators to pass.

    Q: What about Washington, D.C.? They petitioned to vote on the issue.

    A: Georgia’s constitution “does not currently allow for any form of citizen initiated ballot measures, so all ballot measures must be referred by the legislature.”

    The District of Columbia allows for “citizen initiated ballot measures.” This means if enough citizens sign a petition in support of an initiative, the issue will be placed on the ballot and it does not require the legislature’s approval. The legislature still has the power to introduce ballot measures but citizens can bypass them and force the issue to a vote.

    This is a powerful form of direct democracy. However, it is not something that is allowed in Georgia’s constitution. This means it is not an option for cannabis legalization.

    Instead, one or more Georgia legislators must sponsor the ballot measure in order for it to go to a vote in the two chambers. Then, each chamber must vote in support of the ballot measure (at least 2/3 as described above) in order for it to be included on the ballot on election day.

    This means Georgia must approach things differently than Washington, D.C. and hey, we’ve been doing things differently for years!

    Q: So – what do we do to see a ballot measure for cannabis legalization in the future?

    A: We have to lobby Georgia legislators of both parties, in the House and the Senate, to make them understand the majority of Georgians support reform and want to vote on a ballot measure.

    Beyond that, we have to elect representatives who are ready to support this issue.

    This is where the Georgia CARE Project and our partners come into the picture.

    It is our job to talk with legislators in both chambers and explain the merits of these legal reforms.

    We advocate for these issues on your behalf. As part of our #40DaysCampaign, we want to be present for all forty days of the legislative session. Legislators need to hear our message on cannabis legalization every single day. You can support that initiative by pledging to support a day or more of lobbying.

    We will help organize Georgians to reach out to their representatives to let them know we want to see change. This shows them we want representatives who understand how important this issue is for the future of our state.

    We have also recently launched a City by City initiative to push forward cannabis legalization reform on the local, city level across Georgia.

      Full Legalization Bills Pre-Filed for 2015 Legislative Session SR-6 SB-7

      (APN) ATLANTA — Once again, Georgia will be among many U.S. states considering medicinal cannabis, or marijuana, in 2015.

      Up for consideration in Georgia are a total of three pre-filed bills: State Rep. Allen Peake’s (R-Macon) House Bill 1, and State Sen. Curt Thompson’s Senate Bill 7 and Senate Resolution 6.

      SB 7 and HB 1 are medicinal marijuana programs, while SR 6 is Thompson’s attempt at full legalization.

      Both CBD and THC, or cannabinoids, offer great benefits for patients suffering from a vast array of aliments.  The cannabinoid THC, however, contains psychoactive properties, whereas CBD’s do not.

      “Regardless of someone’s socio-economic level, they should have access to medicines that can help them; their quality of life is the issue here,” Thompson told Atlanta Progressive News. “This will be modeled after the Arizona program.”

        Derrick Grayson – Georgia U.S. Senate Candidate Says YES to Marijuana

        Personally speaking, I believe all drugs should be legal. People should have the right to do with their bodies what they choose, so long as it does not interfere with the liberties and freedoms of those around them.

        It is a misconception that if drugs were legal, use would increase. On the contrary. It simply means that it would put a financial dent in the prison industrial complex. There would be fewer deaths over drug related crimes and the illicit drug trade would grind to a halt.

        However, realistically speaking, it is not likely all drugs will be made legal. That being said, to continue the asinine policy of keeping medical hemp out reach for the ill is unconscionable. Those truly in the know realize it is merely to protect the wealth of drug manufacturers and impose the high horse morality of the Christian Right and their sense of righteousness upon others. Corporate greed over American Welfare must cease and individual Liberty must become paramount as it once was.

        Also, hemp has a hundred and two uses, but I won’t go into that here. Suffice it to say, anything that competes cheaply is often opposed by big industry. Can you say pulp wood industry? Lastly, if we do nothing else, the war on Blacks and other minorities (formerly called War on Drugs) must be put to rest.

        Blacks, comprising 12% of the population account for 38% of the drug related arrests, 59% of those in state prison for a drug offense and make up more than 40% of our prison population.

        That in itself is insidious to say the least. The only people victimized by this policy are Blacks, other minorities and poor Whites. No one should ever be sent to prison or have their lives ruined over what they put in their bodies or for addictive behavior. The rich aren’t. If Congress can have their booze, let the rest have their weed.