About The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 8, 2019)
LOCAL THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, AUGUST 8 -14, 2019 • Page 2 COUNTYWIDE i Marijuana reform could be key in 2020 BY HORACE HOLLOMAN horace@dekalbchamp.com State Representative Dar’shun Kendrick, (D - Lithonia), said it is time to address the elephant in the room for next year’s legislative session. Kendrick said it is time to talk about marijuana reform in Georgia. Kendrick said she plans to introduce legislation regarding marijuana use in Georgia as well as record expungement for marijuana-related convictions in 2020. “We have to consider how we’re locking people up. The majority of my district is African American, so my perspective is going to be a little different and one that is more sympathetic, especially when seeing the trend as it’s related to criminal justice,” Kendrick said. According to a report from the American Civil Liberties Union, marijuana use is roughly equal among Blacks and Whites, yet Blacks are 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession. In Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 1438, which legalizes the use of cannabis for residents 21 and older and allows Illinois residents with cannabis-related criminal records to have their records expunged. Kendrick said she is reviewing laws such as the cannabis reform law in Illinois to see if something similar can be created in Georgia after Gov. Brian Kemp signed House Bill 324 into law. HB 324 allows six private companies and two state universities— the University of Georgia and Fort Valley State University—to grow and produce medical marijuana and cannabis oil in Georgia. “This industry that was just created is essentially going to make a lot of people rich and it doesn’t make sense to have Black and Brown people sitting in jail while others make a profit off of it,” Kendrick said. Kendrick also plans to introduce legislation in 2020 that would create a committee to study financing options, including low-interest loans to increase minority participation in the marijuana industry. In 2016, Clarkston addressed marijuana reform issues by reducing the penalty for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana from a maximum fine of $ 1,000 to a maximum fine of $75. DeKalb officials discussed marijuana reform prior to the 2019 legislative session and some said they are in support of a county wide marijuana reform ordinance. Commissioner Nancy Jester said she is in full PUBLIC NOTICE The City of Stone Mountain will hold a general municipal election for three (3) Council Member seats on November 5, 2019 for four-year terms. All persons desiring to run for any of these offices shall qualify at City Hall located at 875 Main Street, Stone Mountain, GA, 30083. The qualifying period shall begin on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 and end on Thursday, August 22, 2019. Qualifying will be conducted during the hours of 8:30am - 4:30pm daily during the qualifying period. The qualifying fee for the office of Council Member will be $108.00. The qualifying fee must be paid during the qualifying period. support of legislation that would allow counties to change their ordinances on marijuana. Jester said the legislation could decrease the workload for local police. “I don’t want anyone to fall out of their chairs when I say this but, I totally agree with this. I think this is something worth pursuing. The city of Atlanta has already done so,” Jester said. “I think it does take off a burden for the jails...we do have more serious issues to deal with. This is just clogging up the works. And for what? Giving people a criminal record for doing something stupid?” In last year’s legislative session, state lawmakers failed to pass a bill that would have increased the amount of marijuana considered a misdemeanor. During a committee hearing for Senate Bill 10 last year, Decatur-based defense attorney Gerald Griggs said the legislation could help unburden Georgia’s court system. “I think [SB 10] will release the burden on many courts that are dealing with low-level drug offenders. They can have an opportunity to rehabilitate them or give them a small fine,” Griggs said. Generation!^ Safe medication practices for life. Use these steps to follow safe medication practices: M Only use medications as directed by your healthcare professional M Never share your prescription medications or take someone else's medication M Safely secure medications and dispose of them when no longer needed M Model safe medication practices information, visit www.guideinc.org Inc. guideinc.org Brought to you by: l<F i the omo state university CardinalHealth W COLLEGE OF PHARMACY FOUNDATION
