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.

News Release: GA C.A.R.E. / N.O.R.M.L. Brings Medical Marijuana to the Gold Dome… Literally

Georgia C.A.R.E. and Peachtree N.O.R.M.L. have joined forces to bring Elvy Musikka to Atlanta on Feb.10th. Elvy is one of only four federal medical marijuana patients allowed to legally possess cannabis. She will bring a canister of cannabis to the Georgia State Capitol in an effort to educate the public, media and lawmakers. Join us for the rally on Feb 10th 1 pm at Liberty Plaza across from the Gold Dome.

*Medical Patient to Bring Medical Marijuana to the Georgia State Capitol*

Atlanta GA: In a effort to educate the public, media and lawmakers about the use of whole plant medical marijuana, a federally approved patient will bring her medicine (cannabis) to the Georgia State Capitol for the Rally for Peace, Justice and Unity at 1:00 PM on February 10th at Liberty Plaza at the Georgia State capitol, hosted by Peachtree N.O.R.M.L. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

Elvy Musikka, 75, from Eugene OR, is one of four remaining patients approved to receive legal marijuana under the Compassionate Investigational New Drug Program, or IND. The program allows patients to use a smokable form of marijuana grown at the University of Mississippi and delivered through the mail monthly. The program is administered by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and closed to new entrants.

Elvy will bring her canister of legal pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes to Atlanta for the rally and interviews with members of the Georgia media.

Sharon Ravert, director of Peachtree N.O.R.M.L. said the goal is to show Georgia we have nothing to fear from the whole plant. In fact for many it is the only option.

“23 other states provide safe access to whole plant medical marijuana, Georgia should follow their lead and provide for in-state cultivation, whole plant medicine and we must stop treating patients like criminals”, Ravert said. “If marijuana is safe and effective for a 75 year old to treat her glaucoma for 40 years, and travel the world with, it is safe enough to enact laws that provides medicine here in Georgia.”

THC, one of the active compounds of cannabis, is used to treat glaucoma and other medical conditions. Smoking cannabis is often preferred by patients because of the immediate relief they receive. Edible products are not provided under the federal IND program.

In 1979, Georgia was one of the first states in the nation to approve medical marijuana for treatment of cancer related conditions and glaucoma.

Georgia Libertarian Candidate Andrew Hunt “decriminalize marijuana”

From Peachtree NORML: The 2014 Georgia gubernatorial election will take place on November 4, 2014. Though there has been much talk and coverage about the Republican candidate Nathan Deal and the Democratic candidate Jason Carter, there has been little reference to the Libertarian candidate Andrew Hunt.

“I am putting forth a broad medical marijuana bill as well as allowance of industrial hemp,” Hunt said. “If a bill decriminalizing [marijuana] does pass, I will gladly sign it.”

“Texas closed three prisons and reduced crime rates at the same time,” Hunt said, “The punishment for victimless crimes should be just fines, and I will move in this direction as much as possible. I hope to show a majority of people that moves toward greater Liberty are great for society. I will support changes to the War on Drugs to reduce the impact that drugs have on our society. Much of the impact is the crime related to the drugs being illegal and people being pulled out of society to serve time in prison. I would like to have net savings in our budget by having drug rehabilitation program versus jail time, and would work to get such changes passed into law and implemented. Police could then focus more on protecting the people versus attacking them.” Andrew Hunt