Governor signs welfare drug testing bill; patients go another year without medical marijuana legislation
On April 16, Gov. Nathan Deal signed HB 186, a bill requiring drug testing for welfare recipients. The offensive new law goes into effect on July 1 and will mandate that TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) applicants pay for and pass drug tests in order to be eligible for public assistance benefits.
Many believe the law will be found unconstitutional if contested in court. Similar laws in other states have been challenged — a federal appeals court struck down Michigan’s law in 2002 for violating individuals' constitutional right to privacy and their Fourth Amendment protection against suspicionless searches, and a similar Florida law was recently put on hold by a federal court.
Although the legislature found time to make life more difficult for low-income parents, no legislator has made it a priority to protect medical marijuana patients. The 2012 session has nearly adjourned, but you can still contact your legislators today and tell them that Georgia residents deserve to have a serious discussion about compassionate legislation that protects medical marijuana patients. If you are able to start a dialogue with your representative or senator, you may want to share with them MPP's model bill. You can also write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper supporting a medical marijuana law in Georgia.
If you are a medical professional, a patient who might benefit from medical marijuana, or if you know somebody who might benefit from medical marijuana, we would like to hear from you. Additionally, if you are a law enforcement official or a clergy member, please email state@mpp.org to see how you can be of special help. Please include your address or nine-digit ZIP code so we can determine who your legislators are.
Learn About Marijuana Policies in Georgia
As of 2007, Georgia ranked number 15 in the nation with 351 out of 100,000 residents being arrested for a marijuana offense. A whopping 84% of these arrests were for mere possession (as opposed to manufacture or trafficking). Georgia also has some of the most punitive marijuana laws in the country, with possession of a mere two ounces being punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Subjecting an individual to a prison sentence for possession of a substance proven safer than alcohol and funding that sentence with tax payer dollars is not sound policy. Please write your state representatives and ask that they replace the current criminal penalties for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana with a simple civil violation. This simple change will decrease law enforcement costs while saving hundreds of otherwise law-abiding Georgia residents from the burden of living the rest of their lives with convictions on their records.
In addition to straining law enforcement costs, criminal policy focused on marijuana users puts an enormous strain on precious law enforcement time. In 2007, the clearance rate for murder in Georgia was a mere 57.1%. For rape, the clearance rate stood at an appalling 37.9%. With so many violent crimes going unsolved, it’s about time Georgia legislators end the prohibition on marijuana once and for all!
To learn more about Georgia, read Dr. Jon Gettman, Ph.D.'s report.
Stay Connected
To receive news about Georgia marijuana policy reform as it happens, be sure to subscribe to MPP's free legislative alert service, if you haven't done so already. If you have any questions concerning the status of marijuana reform in Georgia, you can contact MPP at state@mpp.org.
