A recent Atlanta Forward blog that asked if Georgia should legalize medicinal marijuana received 29 reader comments, none opposed to the idea. Here is a sampling of comments:
Steve: Yes, of course it should be. Not only will it help those in need who want to move away from dangerous addictive painkillers and prescription drugs, it will bring in state revenue and create jobs. Also, the state is way behind in decriminalizing (marijuana), which will free up jails and prisons for real criminals and not ruin the lives of many otherwise law-abiding citizens who don't hurt anyone. This is a no-brainer. However, I feel Georgia and the Bible Belt will be the last, if ever, to legalize.
Dirk: I know a soldier who returned from Afghanistan with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. His therapist here in Georgia recommended he smoke cannabis as part of his therapy. Sadly, he has to do so illegally, while in 20 other states, his therapist could simply write a 'script.
Miriam: This insane law is going to be changed sooner or later. The thing is: Does Georgia always have to be the backward state? Do we always have to be the last ones for anything that is progressive? The funniest thing I still hear is that marijuana is a gateway drug. If Bud Light drinkers could only buy from some sleazy drug dealer, they would say the same thing about beer. Reason is that dealers don't want you to buy just weed or Bud Light. They want you to buy hard drugs. Folks should be able to grow their own. It would not be as potent as the weed in the street, and no one would have to deal with drug dealers. Not to mention how much money Georgia will save in useless incarcerations and drug prescriptions.
Buckhead2Seattle: As a Georgian now living in Seattle, I would like to add my "non-smokers'" perspective. Cannabis is legal in Washington state. It will soon be legal to purchase cannabis at regulated private stores. Marijuana has been quasi-legal here for several years due to residents "piggy-backing" their orders with medical marijuana prescriptions holders, and state and local police making pot arrests an extremely low priority. You would think that everyone, everywhere in Washington and Colorado would be lighting up now that it's legal, but that has not been my experience. I would equate pot legalization to alcohol. The people who drink at 19 when it was illegal are the same ones who drink at 21. They just have more options.
Toby: Spain's cannabis model is best: Let people grow a limited numbers of plants for themselves and have private clubs where adults can buy it. Don't put drugs on every corner, like we do with alcohol and tobacco. Alcohol and cigarettes are too easily available. They are everywhere, and it isn't healthy for people. Cannabis is safer than either of those two drugs, but none of them should be everywhere. Let people grow cannabis for personal use, and let us buy from taxed and regulated private clubs. It could even help people cut back on hard drug use. It's too useful a drug to outlaw.
