On my soapbox

Today is July 1^st. I mark this day because this is the day that new laws in Georgia go in to effect. I would be celebrating this day because Georgia would have become one of many states that have legalized medical marijuana, specifically cannabidol oil. This oil could help Grant immensely with controlling his seizures with very few, if any, side effects. Unfortunately, I cannot celebrate this day because Georgia, unlike many states (and nearly all states that border Georgia), failed to pass a medical marijuana bill.

   

The failure wasn't for a lack of trying. The bill had the full support of the GA House, GA Senate, and Governor. The bill failed to pass because of the efforts of one person. This person’s name is Renee Unterman. She is the State Senator for Georgia’s 45th Senate District. This district is in northern GA close to Lake Lanier and covers parts of the populated areas of Suwanee and Lawrenceville and all of Buford. This district also covers less populated areas such as Braselton (home of Château Elan) and Hog Mountain.

Sen. Unterman had introduced a bill dealing with autism and insurance companies that did not sit well with other legislators. Her bill failed to pass the House. When HB 885 (last session’s medical marijuana bill) passed the house (171-4) and moved to the Senate, Sen Unterman attached the language from her autism bill to HB 885. The modified HB 885 passed the Senate 54-0 and was sent back to House. This was on the second to the last day of the Session (Georgia’s Legislature is part-time Legislature and only meets 40 days a calendar year, usually off and on during January through May).

When the bill came back the house did not vote on it due to the autism amendment. The original sponsor of HB 885, Representative Allen Peake (114th  District, Macon area), attached the marijuana bill language (without the autism amendment) to a bill relating to services for the elderly. This bill passed the House 168-2, and was sent to the Senate.

Once there, Senator Unterman announced the medical marijuana issue had been assigned to a Senate Study Committee; for all intents and purposes, killing the bill. When the original bill (HB 885) was voted on in the Senate and sent to the House, Sen Unterman stated “Our Senate position is that the medical marijuana bill goes nowhere without the autism amendment.”

When the Sen Unterman referred the medical marijuana issue to study committee, one Senator on the GA Senate floor shouted “The children are suffering and you are unwilling to serve the citizens of Georgia!”

For those keeping score, HB 885 passed the house initially 171-4, then passed the Senate (with the autism amendment) 54-0, then passed the House again (as part of the elderly services bill) 168-2. So how could an issue and bill so popular amongst the public and legislators alike fail to pass? One simple word -- politics.

Sen Unterman was like the kid on the playground who decided to take her ball and go home, ruining the fun for all; like the kid who dumps the cake on the floor saying “If I can’t have any, then nobody will have any.” Petty politics, selfishness, and personal pride got in the way of treatment of thousands of children in Georgia like Grant.

Thirty-three states have passed medical marijuana bills and three more currently have pending legislation or ballot initiatives (Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania).  The list of the 33 is:

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Hawaii

Illinois

Iowa

Kentucky

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

North Carolina

Oregon

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Utah

Vermont

Washington

Wisconsin

That is 36 states out of 50 (72%) that have addressed the issue in level-headed way. These state legislatures have had the courage to set aside their differences and pride and decided to help their citizens. I hope and pray that Georgia (and Senator Renee Unterman) can follow suit come January.

To donate to Grant's fund click here