Pubdate: Tue, 03 Jul 2018
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2018 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Contact:  http://www.ajc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28
Author: Christian Boone

REUNITED FAMILY HEARTENS CRITICS OF STATE'S WAR ON POT

JEFFERSONVILLE, GA. - When Georgia authorities found out that smoking 
marijuana was ridding 15-year-old David Ray of seizures that had plagued 
him through childhood, the consequences were swift and severe.

His mother and stepfather - Suzeanna and Matthew Brill - were arrested
and jailed for six days. David, no longer able to medicate with pot,
was hospitalized for a week after suffering what his mother called
"the worst seizure of his life." He was then discharged to strangers
and sent to a Division of Family and Children Services group home
after his parents were stripped of custody - another example of "how
the war on drugs breaks up families," said Lauren Deal, Suzeanna
Brill's attorney.

On Monday, some nine weeks later, the Brills finally got their son
back after a judge granted a protective order agreed upon by his
parents and DFCS. A victory for the Brill family, but in the larger
battle over Georgia's war against weed, it's unlikely to register,
according to one activist.

"This story went worldwide. The family collected more than $60,000 in
donations on their GoFundMe page," said Tom McCain, executive director
of Peachtree NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana
Laws). "It changed their lives. Whether it has any effect on changing
Georgia laws, I doubt it."
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MAP posted-by: Matt