I’m gonna keep this short and sweet. For some background you can read this if you need it. Today the Georgia Medical Cannabis Commission met to decide on the final recommendations for the state and the medical cannabis program. The vote was 11-5 against recommending in-state cultivation, which would keep medicine more affordable for patients and not force them to break federal law obtaining meds.
A recent poll found that 84 percent of Georgians support expansion of the law and in-state grow.
This is the breakdown of the vote. Please note which side most of the doctors are on versus lackeys for Governor Deal, who plans to block expansion.
Yes:
Rep. Allen Peake
Dr. Mandy Reece (pharmacist)
Dr. Cynthia Wetmore (oncologist and head of research for Emory and Children’s Healthcare)
Dr. Yong Park (pediatric neurologist)
Dr. Mark Murphy (gastroenterologist)
No:
Dr. Alice House (head of state medical board)
Brian Rickman (district attorney who was recent appointed judge by Gov Deal)
Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald (commissioner of dept of public health)
Senator Butch Miller (floor leader for Gov Deal)
Rep. Katie Dempsey (Rome)
Ryan Teague (exec counsel to Gov Deal)
Chief Stacey Cotton (police)
Sheriff Gary Gulledge
Rick Allen (Director of GA Drugs and Narcotics)
Vernon Keenan (head of GBI)
Gary Black via proxy vote (commissioner of agriculture).
I’d also like to thank Pastor Mike Griffin, head of the Georgia Baptist Convention who spoke at the hearing and said that although he has prayed with families who need this healing, it should not be passed. Basically his fear of recreational use (which is not on the table) is more important than the welfare of sick people. He can be reached at mgriffin@gabaptist.org.
Yep. Legislators and law enforcement are apparently more suited to making medical decisions than doctors and patients. Read it and weep, Georgia. No seriously, you should weep. This state has serious issues.
They used the federal government as an excuse. Georgia. Does Georgia have a track record of bowing to the federal government? Apparently, only when it suits them.
There will still be legislation introduced to try and expand the program to include more conditions and cultivation, but overcoming dirty Georgia politics to make it happen is not going to be easy.
Governor Nathan Deal
Phone: 404-656-1776
Email: georgia.governor@gov.state.ga.us
Find your state representatives here:
Mixed Up Mommy 