It is being reported that a shady backroom deal has taken place regarding pending legislation on medical marijuana in Georgia. For the past year and a half, the push for legalization of a specific form of cannabis oil and marijuana to treat seizure disorders and other medical conditions seemed to be on track for legislative action. By all accounts the bill would have received strong support in the upcoming legislative session. The original bill called for the cultivation and extraction of marijuana oil within the state of Georgia.
Now a new bill is being put forth that kills any chance of in-state marijuana or cannabis oil extract being produced or sold. Instead the state will allow immunity from prosecution for a select few individuals who buy the products out of state and bring it back to Georgia.
“Disappointment does not describe our feeling in this matter. The least we expected was a fair hearing on HB-1 during the session. Instead, Allen Peake gave into the demands of Gov. Deal and left the sick children to deal with their medical conditions on their own. Lawmakers look to states like Colorado for the answer but refuse to implement a similar policy,” says James Bell, director of the Georgia C.A.R.E. Project, a medical marijuana advocacy group.
Republican Rep. Allen Peake sponsored the original bill, but changed the substance of the bill because of pressure from Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal. Deal praised the new legislation but stated at a press conference, “We acknowledge we’re not addressing all of the issues that are out there, but we’re addressing the ones we consider the most pressing.”
