Marijuana Reforms Still Under Rural Influence
This week’s Courier Herald column:
I was asked recently by a millennial friend if there were any Republican leaders in Georgia that realize there is a national shift underway toward the legalization of marijuana, and if Georgia wants to get ahead of the curve and be a leader among Southeastern states. Setting aside his premise that Georgia needs to follow the lead of the left coast, the fact of the matter is that Georgia has made moves over the past several years toward the legalization of medical marijuana including in-state cultivation.
The beginning of the legislative process was championed by former State Representative Allen Peake, a Republican. Early bills were also supported by former Republican State Senator Josh McKoon, a darling among social conservatives. For the past several years, new bills have become law that have expanded the ability to access cannabis products for medicinal purposes, as well as grow hemp for commercial purposes.
It was Republican majorities in both Georgia’s House and Senate, and Republican Governors signing various bills into law. It’s incorrect to say that Republicans are blind to the changes in attitudes toward marijuana in general.
Still, virtually no one in Georgia leadership is talking about widespread legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes. This isn’t likely to change in the immediate future. The divisions on this bridge too far are rooted in both geography and demographics.
In-town urban millennials have very different views on recreational use pot than do their rural grandparents whose views on the subject are best expressed in the film “Reefer Madness”. Yet as other states exert federalism and declare the drug legal, there is a real-world clash on the subject as Georgia is still putting people in jail for owning or using a product that is now legal in ten states.
Millennial opinions dominate today’s media. Older generations’ views dominate the ballot box. Elected officials understand this divide well, and proceed with caution when attitudes on a controversial subject begin to shift.
Because marijuana for recreational use is still against federal law, this is inherently a law enforcement issue. State leaders have difficulty asking officers to decide which set of laws they wish to ignore while enforcing others.
This mindset has built-in inertia. Almost half of the state’s population lives in the ten county metro Atlanta area, with newer residents moving in every day. Many of these people are younger than the state average, and tend to have views more accepting of marijuana use.
Georgia is a state with 159 counties, however. Each of these counties has a sheriff, and most of them are steadfast against any leniency toward recreational marijuana. For any understanding of the politics of criminal justice matters, one has to understand the rural dominance of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association and how that impacts the sheriffs’ influence on legislation.
This makes a video posted to Facebook by Bibb County Sheriff David Davis last week intriguing. He posted in support of a local measure to decriminalize possession of less than one ounce of marijuana. Those found with small amounts of marijuana will receive a ticket for a $75 fine, rather than receiving a criminal charge that will follow them on their permanent record.
While Davis is elected as a Democrat (as Sheriff is a partisan race on Georgia ballots), he easily won re-election with roughly 80% of the votes against two opponents in 2016, and was unopposed in 2012. He also represents Macon, which isn’t exactly “rural”, but is more identifiable to rural Georgians than ideas on criminal justice that come out of Atlanta.
In marking the attitude change toward marijuana with respect to legalization and criminal justice reform, Davis’ public support of a small decriminalization measure likely marks a bit of a sea change. It’s not likely we will see statewide action until the federal government re-classifies marijuana, but a pragmatic middle-Georgia law enforcement officer stating decriminalization will result in less crime rather than more marks a turning point.
Folks looking for change should spend less time finding younger, urban and suburban voices to champion this cause. Change will come if more of Sheriff Davis’ peers decide to agree with his position.
About Author
Charlie
Founder of GeorgiaPol.com; Now weekly columnist Very interested in Georgia and Georginas. Interest in politics is waning daily.
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Well written and documented. Thanks.
I’m not sure I’m a proponent of legalizing recreational Cannabis, but I certainly do support fully legalizing Medical Cannabis. We, as Americans should be able to lower the cost (and increase quality/purity) of acquiring Medical Cannabis by being able to grow it. Today, CBD only Medical Cannabis extracts are very costly and are NOT covered by Health insurance. Opiates are (not good). On the black market supposed Medical Cannabis (touting 0 THC) is being sold. In many cases it’s not 0 THC. But it helps with chronic pain, never the less. It just gets you high. Something a Medical Cannabis user does NOT want. Also, without strict controls on the growth of the plant, contamination by herbicides, insecticides and intentional lacing with other drugs can not be assured. The reason why I say I’m not sure about legalizing recreation Cannabis is because it’s almost impossible for a cop to determine the difference between home grown High THC vs low THC (Medical) Cannabis. To get the (high CBD/low THC) Medical Cannabis legal to grow for adults we will have to across-the-board legalize the plant. Also, commercially synthesizing components of the Cannabis plant ignores the other components of the plant, the Terpenes. And it ignores the entourage effect so prevalent in Cannabis. Whole plant extract is what is needed. (https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/cannabis-entourage-effect-why-thc-and-cbd-only-medicines-arent-g).
No one has ever articulated to me a reason for why they oppose legalization of recreational marijuana except for “it’s bad, it’s for lazy stoners, and I don’t like it.”
I understand the state-wide debate regarding the drug’s federal status. This is a very convenient side-step for politicians in the state.
My question, however, is larger. On a national scale, where we can elect politicians to change the federal laws, what is the opposition to legalized recreational marijuana other than “I don’t like it.”
Many people don’t like booze, but it’s legal. Many people don’t like tobacco, but it’s legal. Many people don’t like prostitution, but the federal government leaves that up to the states.
Is marijuana good? No. Are there good, logical, intellectually honest and intellectually consistent arguments for it’s prohibition? I’ve never heard one.
My only thing with it is that it stays in the system for so long. But I would imagine there is some test with a numerical “limit” past which you are considered impaired. But like, if you smoke a doob one night, are you going to be over the limit for the next 3 days? And would there need to be controls over potency? Are truck drivers and forklift drivers going to have to take a test every day? And if not, what kind of behavior would signal a supervisor that someone might be impaired? Overindulgence in snacks? Sunglasses? Excessive thirstiness?
Even in a post-legalization world, employers would have every right to prohibit their employees from ingesting marijuana as a condition of their employment. No one has a right to get high, therefore employers have the right to regulate that. If you drive a forklift for a living at a warehouse, that warehouse can say “any amount of thc is against the rules and you’ll be fired.”
In terms of DUI, there still needs to be probable cause for (1) being pulled over and for (2) DUI suspicion. If you smoked the night before, and you drive to work 12 hours later, there shouldn’t be any risk of you appearing impaired for either one of those two prongs.
On the other hand, if you light up on minute, and drive to Krystal the very next, and you can’t keep your car in your lane, the cop pulls you over, your eyes are bloodshot, you fumble getting your wallet/id/license/registration, etc., you’re gonna get arrested for suspicion of DUI.
These logistical concerns, while valid, are not a sufficient argument in favor of prohibition.
And here’s something else – the one who ingests marijuana runs the risk of being found under the influence. Again – legalization does not force marijuana into people’s bodies. It merely allows adults to make decisions and take risks for themselves.