High Hopes for Sweet Georgia

Hey Ya'll! I'm finally getting around to putting an entry into this blog. I won't bore you with any lame excuses but, "You know you how know it is".  This year so far I've basically been a recluse, staying at home mostly making jewelry, painting a bit. I've done a couple of art and marijuana related events and really enjoyed myself and did well but I want to participate more into making changes in the legalization and normalization of cannabis.  I figure NOW!  which is always the best time to do anything would be a good time to start making it my business to seek about like minded people and organizations and support them. 
    I didn't know  exactly where to to start at first so I rolled up, smoked,  then decided that home would be a good place to start, home as in Georgia. I live here and honestly I just didn't know what the laws are pertaining to marijuana. Not like this information was going to stop me from burning it down but it's good to know exactly where we are at.
        A gaggle of google searches later I found out that Georgia has made some progress and is continuing to do so. For about two years now  over 1,800 patients with cancer, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, Sickel cell disease, MS, ALS, seizure disorders, MS, and Mitochondrial disease have been able to use cannabis oil with 5% THC to ease  their ailments.  This year autism, AIDS, Tourette's syndrome, and Alzheimer's disease and anyone in a hospice program was added to that list.  It's a good start but a major problem is that this law does not help with access to the oil.  It just protects patients if they are prosecuted for it. Georgia law currently does not allow us to grow, process or sell marijuana. These people and their caregivers have to pretty much traffic "drugs" from out of state to get relief...wtf!
        Now in regards to getting caught with weed in Georgia, currently pot possession  carries a fine of up to $1,000 and jail time of up to a year for less than and ounce and anything over an ounce is a felony. In March this year in Atlanta a proposal that would get rid of jail time for people caught with marijuana and lower the fine for possession to $75. was put off and is currently under review.  In Clarkston they have already approved this ordinance.  Officials are concerned that people would act as if weed were legal and civilization as we know it would be ova! but really the biggest impact would be for young black males who are disproportionately arrested and  harshly punished when being apprehended with pot.
            Ok so now that I know this, now what?  Time to get involved, besides doing more research and sharing with you guys I'm starting with signing up to organizations like the Marijuana Policy Project, PeachtreeNorml and gacareproject.com.  They are good resources to go to for up to date news and events (sign up for the newsletters) and they also have stoner friendly call to actions where you simply fill out  pre-written forms to demand that your state representatives become positively involved.  I know it seems like a feeble attempt but its a start moving forward. I'll keep you updated on anything new.
Get high, Stay fly!

---