Georgia: Supporters Of Medical Marijuana Speak Out

Robert Celt

New Member
The House judiciary committee held their first hearing on the legalization of growing and distributing medical marijuana in state.

It was a packed house on Monday as people made their case in favor of House Bill 722 for the House Judiciary Committee.

The bill would allow the cultivation and distribution of marijuana in Georgia for medical purposes.

"Growing it here would allow us to regulate it to test for safety and efficacy," says Dr. Cynthia Wetmore, of both Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory.

She says this would help them know what their patients are receiving as well as perform clinical trials.

As written, HB 722 would also add 9 additional conditions that are able to be treated with medical cannabis, like autism, PTSD, Alzheimer's, glaucoma, and Tourette's.

That includes Reid Underwood, a toddler suffering Epidermolysis Bullosa, a rare skin peeling condition.

"It hurts you as a parent to hear the screams of your child," says Reid's father Brian. "This is an issue that should be decided between a doctor and a patient."

Haleigh's Hope Act was signed into law last year, which legalizes the possession of medical cannabis, but people still have to find a way to access it.

Susan Oliver says her daughter and grandson had to move to Colorado to get the oil more easily.

"It would really just put our lives back together because we've been with out him almost two years and he's our only grandson."

Sponsor of the bill, Representative Allen Peake of Macon, says state legislature needs to take action.

"I'm not waiting on the federal government," Peake says. "People are hurting and people are dying."

He says, currently, 517 patients are signed up on the registry wanting to use medical cannabis.

"We've made potential criminals out of families wanting to access it," he says.

Many argue, since they finally found something that works, they want to access it like any other medicine.

The bill is still being revised, but Peake does not believe there will be any major changes.

On Wednesday, those opposed will address the Committee in a second hearing.

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News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Georgia: Supporters Of Medical Marijuana Speak Out
Author: Karli Barnett
Contact: 13WMAX
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Website: 13WMAX
 
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