Pubdate: Fri, 21 Mar 2014
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2014 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Contact:  http://www.ajc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28
Authors: Aaron Gould Sheinin and Kristina Torres

MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL RUNS OUT OF TIME

Macon Lawmaker Made Last-Ditch Appeal to Senate.

The effort to legalize medical marijuana in Georgia is dead for the year.

Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon, who championed the idea after lawmakers 
had already convened for the year and delivered it to the brink of 
final passage, acknowledged the end late Thursday, the legislative 
session's final day.

His bill fell victim to time and the typical political webs that 
ensnare well-meaning legislation every year. House Bill 885 was 
designed to allow Georgia families use of cannabis oil to treat 
certain seizure disorders in both children and adults, afflictions 
that can cause hundreds of seizures a day and often lead to death. 
The oil is harvested from the marijuana plant but does not create the 
high that recreational use of marijuana produces.

Peake looked for any opportunity to get the bill passed. His 
last-ditch effort was to attach it to Senate Bill 291, which created 
a new agency for adult and aging services.

"I bring before you the last time a shot at giving hope to families 
in Georgia," he said, asking the House one last time to vote for his 
new passion project.

"We give parents the choice, the personal choice and option to go 
seek, legally, cannabidiol oil that can have life-changing impact on 
their children."

The House agreed, but Peake ran out of time to get approval in the Senate.

House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, slammed senators for their inaction.

"They have had that opportunity," Ralston said. "I understand they 
would rather make speeches than take care of Georgia's children."

The Senate had earlier approved Peake's original bill, HB 885, but 
only after attaching legislation that would require insurance 
companies to cover autism treatment in young patients. That mandate 
has been a non-starter in the House.

"I'm going to go home to my comfortable life, my comfortable family, 
my healthy children," Peake said. "These families are going to wake 
up to a child having 100 seizures a day, so it's frustrating we 
couldn't come to a resolution."
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