Would You Support A Plan to Legalize Medical Marijuana in Georgia?

According to a press release from James Bell, the director for Georgia Campaign for Access, Reform and Education (Georgia C.A.R.E.), Georgia activists believe the state of Georgia is ready to consider legislation allowing for medical marijuana.

“We believe the people of Georgia will support our efforts to allow patients with serious medical conditions to use marijuana under doctor’s supervision. We’re ready to take our plan to state lawmakers”, Bell said.  “In 1980 Georgia was one of the first states in the nation to pass a compassionate medical marijuana law. We believe Georgia lawmakers are no less compassionate today. We should not treat patients like criminals.”

In a seven page report, Georgia C.A.R.E. gave the following outline on how to remove criminal penalties and allow doctors to provide for a safe, legal source of medical marijuana.

According to the press release, these are: 

1. Define what is a legitimate medical use of marijuana by requiring a person who seeks legal protection to (a) have a medical condition that is sufficiently serious or debilitating, and (b) have the approval of his or her medical practitioner;

2. Avoid provisions that would require physicians or government employees to violate federal law in order for patients to legally use medical marijuana;

3. Provide at least one of the following means of obtaining marijuana, preferably all three: (a) permit patients to cultivate their own marijuana; (b) permit primary caregivers to cultivate marijuana on behalf of patients; and (c) authorize nongovernmental organizations to cultivate and distribute marijuana to patients and their primary caregivers. 

4. Implement a series of sensible restrictions, such as prohibiting patients and providers from possessing large quantities of marijuana, prohibiting driving while under the influence of marijuana, and so forth. 

Georgia CARE now hopes to get support for this plan in the 2014 legislative session. It is planning a symposium on Cannabis Therapeutics at Emory University in January 2014.

What do you think? Should Georgia join the other 20 states that have already legalized medical marijuana?