Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Dale Jackson isn't giving up.
He has fought for the passage of a medical marijuana bill in the hope that cannabis oil could help his autistic son, Colin, 6. However, autism was among the conditions taken off the list that could be treated in the the medical marijuana bill, HB 1, before it was passed by the House and sent to the Senate.
Jackson has taken his battle to the state capitol. He's attended several legislative sessions and spoken to representatives and senators on both sides of the bill. Jackson's also addressed several organizations against medicinal marijuana, plus held rallies outside the capitol's doors. He's posted several video's about his fight on his Facebook page.
"It's been so frustrating battling against organizations like the Freedom Coalition within the Republican Party, the Sheriffs' Association, the police chiefs association and the Georgia Baptist Association, the biggest lobbying groups against the bill," said Jackson. "Their answer to me was the potential dangers (of medical marijuana) ... how can you be against the potential dangers when the immediate dangers with anti-seizure medications are right in front of you?"
Breaking State And Federal Laws
Another frustration for Jackson is the lack of in state cultivation labs to produce the cannabis oil. Even if HB1 passes in Georgia, parents would still need to go out of state to purchase medicinal marijuana.
"So the governor, who doesn't want in-state cultivation, wants me to pack up and drive to South Carolina and come back with it (cannabis oil)," said Jackson. "I'd be breaking state and federal laws. It's just not realistic. If we don't have in-state cultivation and I don't have somewhere local to go, then how am I going to get it?"
It is a worry also shared by LaGrange Public Safety Chief Lou Dekmar.
"I have concerns the legislation will require people to violate state and federal laws to bring cannabis oil into the state of Georgia," he said. "I thought they would have created something 'legally' for those folks to bring in-state ... I am not antagonistic towards the bill as it's written. I am concerned they don't provide for a cultivation lab or an authorized mechanism in state to produce the cannabis oil by regulated authorities."
Rep. Allen Peake, who introduced the bill, said HB1 still provides for a commission to study the value and best practices for creating an in-state cultivation lab. He said the committee must present its findings by December so it can be discussed and voted on in the 2016 legislative session.
Clinical Studies
Many people against legalizing marijuana in the state of Georgia want clinical studies on the effects of cannabis oil completed before it is openly dispensed through out the state.
Jackson said no studies can be done right now because the drug is still illegal in the state of Georgia. He also fears that request may be a stall tactic by Gov. Nathan Deal.
"My fear is what the Governor is waiting on is the pharmaceutical industry to come up with synthetic oil," he explained. "Which will be close, but have potential side effects and be exponentially expensive."
Dekmar feels for parents, like Jackson, who want the oil to enhance the lives of their children.
"If parents with children (who have disorders) are convinced that this will help the child, then there needs to be allowances," he said. "But it needs to be regulated so no harm is done ... and a study to watch the behaviors and any symptoms of children (on cannabis oil) so there is no additional harm done.
"If I was a parent (of a child with a disorder), I'd be looking at this in a totally different way," Dekmar continued. "From a policy standpoint, and what I'm looking at, we need to do due diligence and do this in a way that causes no harm."
The Future Of HB1
Despite some revisions in the bill, Peake still stands behind HB1.
"We've got a good bill, up to half a million people who can access the cannabis oil," he said. "HB1 provides immunity for citizens with cannabis oil with less than 5 percent THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana) with one of nine diseases on the list. And they can only have 20 ounces on them."
According to Peake, the latest version of HB1 also provides protection and immunity to those who have cannabis oil shipped to Georgia or those who want to take the risk and buy it in another state and cross state lines. He said the only way folks would be able to obtain a medical marijuana card is on the recommendation from a physician.
But Peake admitted HB1 is not perfect and believed the bill may get cut further when it goes up for debate in the Georgia Senate.
"I'm very worried," Peake said. "I'm hearing rumors that Senator Renee Unterman is going to gut the bill and have it only for people with seizure disorders.
"Folks need to contact their senator about HB1 so we can bring our refugee families from Colorado home. If the Senate strips it out, then people need to be calling and 'raising Cain' — starting with Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle."
Jackson agrees the bill that ultimately passes into law will be severely restrictive on the people who needed medical marijuana the most.
"It will be more worthless than the bill is in it's current form," he said. "I don't see (legislators) putting anything back in it.
"I understand they're not fighting against the words in HB1, they're fighting against legalizing medical marijuana in Georgia," he continued. "So, unfortunately, my son is collateral damage in their fight against legislation."
For Jackson, his fight continues for Colin. While not willing to break any laws, his love for his son outweighs any obstacles that stand in his way help Colin live a long and productive life.
"That would be my natural response, to get (cannabis oil) illegally," he said. "But we have enough on our plate. We have other children. You worry about them being taken away by DFACS (if caught with cannabis oil). That's not a worry I want to put on my wife.
"I just want to hear him talk," Jackson said as he paused, his voice filled with emotion. "That's all I want."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: A father’s love: Fighting for change - Lagrange Daily News - lagrangenews.com
Author: Melanie Ruberti
Contact: mruberti@civitasmedia.com
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Lagrange Daily News - lagrangenews.com
He has fought for the passage of a medical marijuana bill in the hope that cannabis oil could help his autistic son, Colin, 6. However, autism was among the conditions taken off the list that could be treated in the the medical marijuana bill, HB 1, before it was passed by the House and sent to the Senate.
Jackson has taken his battle to the state capitol. He's attended several legislative sessions and spoken to representatives and senators on both sides of the bill. Jackson's also addressed several organizations against medicinal marijuana, plus held rallies outside the capitol's doors. He's posted several video's about his fight on his Facebook page.
"It's been so frustrating battling against organizations like the Freedom Coalition within the Republican Party, the Sheriffs' Association, the police chiefs association and the Georgia Baptist Association, the biggest lobbying groups against the bill," said Jackson. "Their answer to me was the potential dangers (of medical marijuana) ... how can you be against the potential dangers when the immediate dangers with anti-seizure medications are right in front of you?"
Breaking State And Federal Laws
Another frustration for Jackson is the lack of in state cultivation labs to produce the cannabis oil. Even if HB1 passes in Georgia, parents would still need to go out of state to purchase medicinal marijuana.
"So the governor, who doesn't want in-state cultivation, wants me to pack up and drive to South Carolina and come back with it (cannabis oil)," said Jackson. "I'd be breaking state and federal laws. It's just not realistic. If we don't have in-state cultivation and I don't have somewhere local to go, then how am I going to get it?"
It is a worry also shared by LaGrange Public Safety Chief Lou Dekmar.
"I have concerns the legislation will require people to violate state and federal laws to bring cannabis oil into the state of Georgia," he said. "I thought they would have created something 'legally' for those folks to bring in-state ... I am not antagonistic towards the bill as it's written. I am concerned they don't provide for a cultivation lab or an authorized mechanism in state to produce the cannabis oil by regulated authorities."
Rep. Allen Peake, who introduced the bill, said HB1 still provides for a commission to study the value and best practices for creating an in-state cultivation lab. He said the committee must present its findings by December so it can be discussed and voted on in the 2016 legislative session.
Clinical Studies
Many people against legalizing marijuana in the state of Georgia want clinical studies on the effects of cannabis oil completed before it is openly dispensed through out the state.
Jackson said no studies can be done right now because the drug is still illegal in the state of Georgia. He also fears that request may be a stall tactic by Gov. Nathan Deal.
"My fear is what the Governor is waiting on is the pharmaceutical industry to come up with synthetic oil," he explained. "Which will be close, but have potential side effects and be exponentially expensive."
Dekmar feels for parents, like Jackson, who want the oil to enhance the lives of their children.
"If parents with children (who have disorders) are convinced that this will help the child, then there needs to be allowances," he said. "But it needs to be regulated so no harm is done ... and a study to watch the behaviors and any symptoms of children (on cannabis oil) so there is no additional harm done.
"If I was a parent (of a child with a disorder), I'd be looking at this in a totally different way," Dekmar continued. "From a policy standpoint, and what I'm looking at, we need to do due diligence and do this in a way that causes no harm."
The Future Of HB1
Despite some revisions in the bill, Peake still stands behind HB1.
"We've got a good bill, up to half a million people who can access the cannabis oil," he said. "HB1 provides immunity for citizens with cannabis oil with less than 5 percent THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana) with one of nine diseases on the list. And they can only have 20 ounces on them."
According to Peake, the latest version of HB1 also provides protection and immunity to those who have cannabis oil shipped to Georgia or those who want to take the risk and buy it in another state and cross state lines. He said the only way folks would be able to obtain a medical marijuana card is on the recommendation from a physician.
But Peake admitted HB1 is not perfect and believed the bill may get cut further when it goes up for debate in the Georgia Senate.
"I'm very worried," Peake said. "I'm hearing rumors that Senator Renee Unterman is going to gut the bill and have it only for people with seizure disorders.
"Folks need to contact their senator about HB1 so we can bring our refugee families from Colorado home. If the Senate strips it out, then people need to be calling and 'raising Cain' — starting with Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle."
Jackson agrees the bill that ultimately passes into law will be severely restrictive on the people who needed medical marijuana the most.
"It will be more worthless than the bill is in it's current form," he said. "I don't see (legislators) putting anything back in it.
"I understand they're not fighting against the words in HB1, they're fighting against legalizing medical marijuana in Georgia," he continued. "So, unfortunately, my son is collateral damage in their fight against legislation."
For Jackson, his fight continues for Colin. While not willing to break any laws, his love for his son outweighs any obstacles that stand in his way help Colin live a long and productive life.
"That would be my natural response, to get (cannabis oil) illegally," he said. "But we have enough on our plate. We have other children. You worry about them being taken away by DFACS (if caught with cannabis oil). That's not a worry I want to put on my wife.
"I just want to hear him talk," Jackson said as he paused, his voice filled with emotion. "That's all I want."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: A father’s love: Fighting for change - Lagrange Daily News - lagrangenews.com
Author: Melanie Ruberti
Contact: mruberti@civitasmedia.com
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Lagrange Daily News - lagrangenews.com
