Atlanta cannabis conference focuses on decriminalizing drug laws
'We want to put a face to the marijuana issue.'
- David Schick
- Advocates of ending marijuana prohibition host Q&A panel
Marijuana activists gathered in Midtown at this weekend's Southern Cannabis Reform Conference to unite and discuss how to reform antiquated marijuana laws.
Several pro-marijuana groups gathered at the Spring4th Center in Midtown to promote the idea of drug decriminalization and discuss ways to improve community outreach.
The two-day summit was organized by Peachtree National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), Georgia Campaign for Access, Reform and Education (CARE), the American Cannabis Coalition, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and Georgia NORML, among others.
"We want to put a face to the marijuana issue," said James Bell, director of Georgia CARE. Bell recently put forth a proposal to study and expand Georgia's current medical marijuana laws and is still seeking Gold Dome sponsors.
Bell's unsure of the proposal's chances at the statehouse. But he thinks the groups' efforts could be a part of the criminal justice reform that's making its way through the Capitol. He wants to find a way the movement can piggyback on those changes.
"They're the key to marijuana reform in Georgia right now," Bell told CL. "Nothing's going to happen unless they say so."