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Medical Marijuana Is Becoming Closer to Reality for Georgia

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Georgia residents are wondering why they do not have any form of legal marijuana yet. Several of the states surrounding them, like Florida, have at least adopted a medical marijuana policy. In 2015, however, a glimmer of hope came about as Haleigh’s Hope Act was passed, which allows for the use of CBD oil to treat a limited set of conditions.

If elected as mayor of Atlanta, Senator Vincent Fort said he would decriminalize marijuana, at least in Atlanta, reports Better Georgia.  The Senator’s history includes pushes for reform in the criminal justice system.

Senator Fort said, “Often times there are racial disparities in criminal justice systems. When you realize that an arrested conviction of that sort can cause any number of problems, including making it more difficult to get into college, applying for scholarships and getting certain professional licenses, decriminalization is a part of the process of dealing with this situation.”

Senator Fort wouldn’t be alone in his call for decriminalization. He would have the support of Georgia’s C.A.R.E. Project, Peachtree NORML, and Students for Sensible Drug Policy. It would be a city-by-city type of initiative rather than a statewide option.

Director of Georgia C.A.R.E James Bell said, “[Decriminalization] in Atlanta will encourage other cities to do the same. Cities can undermine the state laws and send a message that we no longer want to destroy lives over a plant.”

Clarkston, Georgia officials are taking the necessary actions to work on decriminalization locally already. They have the support of their mayor, Ted Terry. Already, Clarkston has reduced fines for marijuana possession to just $75.

In a recent poll, about 62-percent of Georgia voters support marijuana decriminalization. The first step is working in the city-by-city format to show that decriminalization saves local taxpayers money and frees up local resources.