Georgia Woman Starts Voter Petition for Medical Marijuana

[RainDog]

http://www.walkermessenger.com/view/full_story/8977149/article-Rossville-woman%E2%80%99s-push-for-medical-marijuana-in-Georgia-gains-momentum?

(Heather) Boles is gathering signatures to petition legislators to legalize medicinal marijuana, like neighboring states that have pushed for legalization, including Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas and Nebraska.

Boles, who has collected more than 2,000 signatures for the cause, wants the state to consider the medical benefits of cannabis sativa and join the other 14 states that already have medicinal marijuana facilities.

...According to Mike Meno, director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) in Washington, D.C., “In all of recorded history, no one has ever fatally overdosed on marijuana, which is virtually nontoxic. Even the National Institute on Drug Abuse has acknowledged there is no link between marijuana and cancer. In fact, a lot of research has shown that cannabinoids (marijuana's unique, active components) can actually inhibit tumor growth in cancer patients.”

...Meno said that petitions, like Boles’, do have an impact on legislation.

“They can be a valuable tool for demonstrating that public will exists to change marijuana laws,” Meno said. “In states that have the ballot initiative process, signature drives have placed marijuana-related issues on the ballot, and in virtually every circumstance they have passed. Nine of the 14 state medical marijuana laws (and D.C.) passed by voter ballot initiatives, and this November, Californians will vote on a marijuana legalization measure that made the ballot after a signature drive. Voters in Arizona and South Dakota will also vote on medical marijuana ballot initiatives that required signature drives. In states, such as Georgia, that don't have ballot initiatives, however, voters must rely on state lawmakers to introduce and pass legislation.”

via

http://www.cannabisnews.org/united-states-cannabis-news/medicalmarijuana/rossville-womans-push-for-medical-marijuana-legislation-gains/

According to abcnews.com, eight in 10 American’s support legalization of marijuana and nearly half favor de-criminalizing the drug more generally, both far higher than a decade ago. Fifty-six percent say that if it’s allowed, doctors should be able to prescribe medical marijuana to anyone they think it can help. Thirty percent of conserva-tives and 32 percent of Republicans favor legalization, compared with 49 percent of independents, 53 percent of Democrats and more than half of moderates and liberals alike ( 53 and 63 percent, respectively ).

To sign Boles petition for the push to legalize medicinal marijuana for the state of Georgia, contact her by email at [e-mail].

JMO, but yahoo email addresses are free and if Ms Boles wants to succeed, she might want an email address that reflects a more expansive view of the issue of medical marijuana. But that's just my pov.

The bigger truth is that a woman in California who saw her friends wasting away because of AIDS found out about the benefits of cannabis for cancer patients and started making pot brownies to keep her friends alive. That was what initially led to widespread disregard for a bad law in CA - that woman was joined by others who had family members with cancer or MS or CP. And that's what this all comes down to, at its most basic level.

I hope others in Georgia will join her.

[NC_Nurse]

1. I have a hard time invisioning any progress in this effed up state. But I hope

she is able to get somewhere.

[RainDog]

3. I really think this nation has reached a tipping point

the overwhelming evidence from 1000s of studies show that cannabis is an effective medicine. And more research needs to be done. As someone else said here before - I wouldn't be surprised if cannabis turned out to be as important, if not more so, than the widespread acceptance of willow (bark) as a medicine... known as aspirin.

since it is wrongly classified as a schedule 1 substance, in light of research and the fact that sativex, a liquid spray form of cannabis (not a synthetic like marinol with only THC) has been approved for use for more than 5 years in Canada...

a government has to come to a point where it acknowledges the overwhelming scientific evidence - otherwise- that nation is turning its back on the acceptance of rational thought and empirical knowledge - the entire philosophical underpinning of the idea that democracy is possible.

[NC_Nurse]

4. From where I'm sitting here in GA, we are the caboose to most of the progress

in the country. It'll be a while...that's all I'm saying.

[RainDog]

7. yeah, I know what you mean

I'm from the south.

[Crystal Clarity]

2. Medical Marijuana has been legal here for about 10 yrs

I have a friend who is allowed to grow up to 6 plants thanks to a script from her doctor following a car accident she had been in 2 yrs ago. She says it heps alot w/her pain.

I think within 10 years or so, this will be a non-issue everywhere. As the baby boomers who are more tolerant of pot age and begin replacing the previous generation as the largest voting bloc, I think medical marijuana will likely become accepted even in the reddest of states.

[Maru Kitteh]

5. Georgia and Nebraska are neighboring states? Who knew.

[RainDog]

6. I think the reporter intended to note states that were near

I don't think next-door-neighbor is the only criteria. but I agree that the term sounds a little strange because, geographically, we tend to use the term for abutting states.

At least someone is willing to discuss the issue in a region of the nation that frequently finds it hard to enact progressive legislation because of the level of religious conservatism that distorts and misunderstands so many scientific issues.

Texas is also trying to address this national move toward acceptance of the scientific data and the will of the people.

There, the conservative legislators are focusing on the benefit to veterans for treatment of PTSD and, of course, the VA is, as of this last month, the first federal agency to recognize cannabis as a valid medication for Vets in states with medicinal marijuana laws.