Georgia made history this month when it became the first state to allow pharmacies to dispense medical cannabis to patients, and now, activists and lawmakers have teamed up to call for adult-use legalization.
New Georgia Project Action Fund’s We Want All The S.M.O.K.E. (Spreading Marijuana Opportunities and Knowledge Everywhere) Campaign has joined Democratic State Rep. Eric Bell and community leaders and activists to form the Georgia Coalition for Cannabis Reform.
The group will focus on advocacy and legislation promoting the safe use of cannabis, increased access to jobs and opportunities in the industry, and criminal legal reform for cannabis-related crimes, according to a press release. Part of the S.M.O.K.E. campaign also includes helping to educate voters on the issue of cannabis decriminalization ahead of upcoming municipal elections.
Leaders in the cannabis and medical industries support the initiative, which also includes the Georgia Hemp Association, Lakeland Centres, Minority Cannabis Research Laboratories, CARE for Georgia and others.
“This coalition was born out of necessity,” Takia Tinsley, lead organizer for New Georgia Project Action Fund’s S.M.O.K.E. Campaign, said in a public statement. “Too many Georgians’ lives are being halted or harmed over use of a drug that medical professionals all over the country support and that most other states allow. Georgia is one of only 19 states that still imposes jail time for cannabis possession. And, so far, only 12 cities out of Georgia’s 537 have decriminalized possession of less than an ounce. That’s 2 percent of Georgia cities, leaving the residents in the other 98 percent vulnerable to unfair targeting and punishment. We’re on a mission to change that.”
The Georgia Coalition for Cannabis Reform held a press conference Oct. 27 to mark the group’s launch and hear from community, medical, business and elected leaders.
Bell announced plans during Friday’s press conference to introduce an adult-use legalization bill when Georgia’s legislative session kicks off next year, according to a FOX 5 Atlanta report.
“We believe in restorative justice and decriminalization of cannabis in Georgia,” Bell said.
