2017 5th Annual Cannabis Awareness and Lobby Day

Our Goal:

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.

Georgia Medical Marijuana Reform in 2017:

State Rep. Allen Peake (R-Macon) announced his plans to file legislation seeking a public vote on in-state cultivation of cannabis for medicinal use.

Peake has taken on the medical cannabis issue over the past several years with some success. The successful House Bill 1 allows some patients to use low-THC cannabis oil. However, no legal supply of the medicine was, or is, as of yet, available in Georgia.

As a result, many families are now in the difficult position of having to violate state law in order to import medicine.

Georgia CARE Project (Campaign for Access, Reform and Education) supports a ballot initiative that takes the issue directly to the public, in order to resolve this issue.

According to James Bell, Director of Georgia CARE, the public understands the issue and can make a rational decision on their own.

“We know there is huge support amongst the public and General Assembly”, Bell said. A recent Atlanta Journal Constitution poll found that 71% of Georgians support the expansion of medical marijuana. “They trust us to vote for them each election cycle. Therefore they should trust us to make a decision on the medical cannabis issue.”

Bell points out that Gov. Deal and his floor leaders push back on in-state cultivation, claiming the industries are unable to keep cultivation under control. This is in contrast to the dozens of states that currently produce cannabis. Experience shows us that producers and regulators can effectively track the plant from seed to patient.

Looking Forward

“Both medical cannabis and ‘recreational’ cannabis will be legal. It’s not a matter of if, but when. These are two separate issues that deserve separate consideration. One issue should not disqualify the debate over the other. We want all issues on the table. Decriminalization and harm reduction through criminal justice reform is the first step,” Bell said.

Georgia CARE Project focuses on three areas of reform: criminal justice, medicinal cannabis, and industrial hemp.

Marijuana Lobby Day Georgia State Capitol – Jan 21th

Georgia CARE Project will be participating in the following event:

ACLU “By the People” Marijuana Reform Lobby Day & Press Conference (Call 404-271-9061 for more info)

When: Tuesday – January 21, 2014 – 9:00am to 3:00pm

Where: Georgia State Capitol – Coverdell Legislative Office Building (CLOB) Located on Mitchell Street, Room 605 Atlanta, GA 30334

Why: ACLU Lobbying Training Session 9:00 am / NORML Press Conference 1:00 pm

Details: Peachtree / Georgia NORML will be hosting a press conference to release recent information concerning marijuana law reform issues in Georgia. The media and public is encouraged to attend this historic news event.

The press conference will start promptly at 1:30pm Washington Street side. Dress (appropriately) as if you are going to court or a job interview. Please bring your I.D. to get into the Capitol.