Georgia Rep. Allen Peak Continues Fight for Medical Marijuana Expansion

In the 2018 legislative session, Representative Allen Peak has promised to continue fighting for expansion of Georgia’s medical marijuana program. His advocacy began when he received an email from a mother of an epileptic child. She asked him to fight for medical marijuana to save her daughter’s life, and that’s what he’s done since.

Peake visited Haleigh in the hospital before making his decision to fight for medical marijuana, Flagpole reports. House Bill 1, giving immunity from prosecution for possession of medical marijuana oil, was signed into law. Eight conditions are covered under this protection. The program has expanded – slightly – by including six additional conditions.

Polls show public support for expanding the program even further. Cultivation was voted against by the Commission on Medical Cannabis. So, obtaining the oil in Georgia is still not possible. Patients have to obtain the low THC oil from outside of Georgia. This is where difficulties with federal law come into play.

Peake has introduced two new pieces of legislation to allow for in-state cultivation and another to put the matter up for public vote in November 2018 to allow in-state production.

Peake is still helping patients obtain their medicine. He is still footing the entire bill himself. Fortunately for him, there’s a loophole in the law that won’t put him in jeopardy of prosecution.

Peake does not support recreational marijuana.

He said, “No one has ever died of a marijuana overdose. They may have gotten the munchies.”

He is one of the many hoping that the CARERS Act of 2017 will pass federally. This would stop federal interference of state laws and would also reschedule marijuana.

Interestingly, Mayor Nancy Denson supports adult use of marijuana. However, she’s blocked decriminalization efforts locally. Her decision, according to her, was based upon opinions of the city attorney saying it would violate state law.