Pubdate: Thu, 16 Jan 2014
Source: Douglas County Sentinel (GA)
Copyright: 2014 Douglas County Sentinel, Douglasvcille, GA.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/J7vysmDh
Website: http://www.douglascountysentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5444
Author: Ron Daniel

LITHIA SPRINGS MAN LOBBIES LEADERS AS MOVE TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA PICKS UP STEAM

Five people came before Douglas County Chief Magistrate Judge Susan
Camp on Monday charged with crimes related to marijuana.

Camp had the same advice for all of them: You might want to move out
west where it's legal.

"Great advice," said Lithia Springs resident James Bell, a longtime
advocate for legalizing pot. "You don't set up a casino in Georgia and
you don't set up a grow room in Georgia. And you've got to stay where
it's legal or you stay here and fight it. That's the other option is
you stay here and fight for your own state and for your own rights
here."

Bell has chosen the latter option. And while he has been pushing for
legalization for decades, Georgia lawmakers finally seem to be taking
the issue seriously.

Twenty states have legalized marijuana formedical use. Two states -
Colorado and Washington - have legalized it for recreational use and
medicinal use.

Bell said legalization generally starts with medical use, which he
supports.

"Quite frankly if I was to toss a coin, it would have to be medical
because of the compassion issue and just because it's more important
to treat people with illness than it is for people to get stoned,"
Bell said.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta's documentary "Weed" on CNN caught the attention of
state Sen. Josh McKoon, R-Columbus. Gupta wrote in an op-ed after
"Weed" aired, "It doesn't have a high potential for abuse, and there
are very legitimate medical applications. In fact, sometimes marijuana
is the only thing that works."

McKoon, an attorney who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee,
recently told Creative Loafing he plans to call for hearings on
medical marijuana.

"There are many many states that have adopted some form of allowance
for medical marijuana application," McKoon said to the magazine. "I
felt it was past time to call for hearings to have that dialogue...
(This is about) having a venue to separate fact from fiction on what
the potential applications are out there. And see what other states'
experiences have been."

Georgia House Speaker David Ralston said he wants to look at the
science.

And locally, Bell has reached out to District 66 Rep. Kimberly
Alexander (D-Douglasville). Alexander said while she's not pushing any
legislation on medicinal marijuana, she's open to learning more.

"I am researching the pros and cons on this topic," said Alexander. "I
am performing my due diligence around this topic based on input from
constituents as I do on all inputs from constituents. I am also
working with a legislative committee group to research and gather
additional information related to medicinal marijuana. We also have a
doctor that is a part of the committee group."

Bell has been on TV and radio speaking in favor of legalization and
written editorials on the topic.

His group Georgia Campaign for Access, Reform and Education, or CARE
had 12 people working the crowd at the Wild Hog supper last weekend.
The event, attended by politicians from the governor on down,
lobbyists and other politicos, serves as an unofficial kickoff to the
2014 legislative session.

Georgia CARE members worked the crowd of about 1,000 wearing badges
with pot leaves on them talking to anyone who would listen.

Bell said the fact that nearly half the states have laws allowing at
least limited use is huge progress. He predicts that Florida will be
the first state in the South to legalize medical marijuana.

And he believes Georgia could be there within the next four
years.

"You think it's an impossible task and then suddenly you've got some
of the top lawmakers in the state giving their OK and saying yeah,
let's study this issue," Bell said. "You can imagine we're excited." 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D