Pubdate: Tue, 04 Mar 2014
Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN)
Copyright: 2014 The Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.timesfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/992
Note: Paper does not publish LTE's outside its circulation area
Author: Ray Henry, The Associated Press

GEORGIA LAWMAKERS DEBATE LEGALIZING MEDICAL MARIJUANA

ATLANTA (AP) - Patients diagnosed with certain illnesses could take a 
form of medical marijuana under a plan that Georgia's state 
legislators backed Monday ahead of an important deadline that sorts 
out which bills go forward and which will likely fail for the year.

Legislative rules force Georgia's state lawmakers to get their bills 
approved by at least one chamber of the General Assembly by what's 
commonly called "Crossover Day," or else those bills are unlikely to 
get to the governor's desk. That rule can be bent, but it is difficult.

Among the biggest debates was a plan to let people suffering from the 
side effects of cancer treatment, glaucoma and some seizure disorders 
to take products derived from cannabis oil in the hope it will ease 
their symptoms. House lawmakers voted 171- 4 to approve the bill. It 
now heads to the state Senate.

The cannabis could be given to patients orally as a liquid, a pill or 
through injections. State Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon, the bill's 
sponsor, said the cannabis could bring relief for children who suffer 
from hundreds of seizures daily. He said cannabis oil is low in THC, 
the active ingredient that produces the marijuana high.

"It is not a slippery slope toward legalization of cannabis for 
recreational use," Peake said. "I stand firmly against that direction 
and will fight it with all my energy."

Several politicians acknowledged they were initially reluctant to 
change statewide drug policy during an election year, but Peake urged 
them not to delay by setting up study committees or holding the bill 
until next year.

"We cannot move fast enough," he said.

Janea Cox hugged her daughter, Haleigh, during the vote. Her daughter 
has up to 100 seizures daily, and she had lobbied for the legislation.

"We are all so overwhelmed right now," Cox said, crying. "We had so 
much support in there I can't imagine it not passing. It's crazy to 
be a part of history. I think we're all in shock right now."

There were skeptics. Rep. Sharon Cooper, chairwoman of the Health and 
Human Service Committee, voted for the proposal but cautioned that it 
is flawed. Cooper said research colleges that provide medical 
marijuana under the proposed law could lose federal funding and their 
officials could be prosecuted.

In the Senate, lawmakers approved a bill that says health insurance 
policies available through Georgia's federally run insurance exchange 
can't fund abortion. The Republican-dominated chamber voted 35-18 to 
approve the restrictions, a step supporters said two dozen other 
states have already taken. Democratic lawmakers opposed the bill, 
saying it infringes on a woman's right to choose.

As the day progressed, House lawmakers voted 173-3 to approve placing 
a statue of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. on the 
Capitol grounds or in another prominent location. While the bill 
passed by a wide margin, honoring King has been politically 
controversial in past years. Former Gov. Lester Maddox refused to 
shut down state government when King was assassinated. A portrait of 
King hangs in the Statehouse, but the grounds also host portraits and 
monuments of politicians who supported segregation.

Other issues remain unresolved.

For example, a proposal to regulate companies that allow people to 
order a ride using their cellphones had not been scheduled for a 
vote, meaning it was at risk of collapsing this year. Those 
regulations were supported by existing limousine companies, but they 
were opposed by ridesharing companies.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom