Category Archives: marijuana

February 17, 2014 Newsletter

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Bills Prohibit Foreign Law in Georgia Courts

S.R. 808 introduced by Senator Tommie Williams, January 28th proposes an amendment to the Georgia Constitution that would prohibit the application of foreign law in Georgia courts, if the foreign law violates rights guaranteed to citizens by the U.S. Constitution and the Georgia Constitution or the public policy of the State of Georgia. If S.R. 808 passes the House and Senate by a 2/3 vote, it would be a two-part question for voters on the November Ballot. To emphasis the question’s two parts, this writer has designated them (a) and (b) as follows:

“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as (a) to prohibit the application of foreign law in violation of rights guaranteed natural citizens by the U.S. and Georgia Constitutions and (b) to prohibit the application of laws enacted by other states in the U.S. that violate the public policy of the State of Georgia?”

Concerning (a) above: Since foreign law has already been applied in other states, to the detriment of their citizens, it’s expedient that legislators pass preventive measures before Georgia courts allow foreign law to influence judicial decisions. Certainly, Georgia should follow the lead of eight other states – Tennessee, Louisiana, Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Missouri and North Carolina – that prohibit the use of foreign law. In addition to those eight states, such action is pending in 20 other states, including Florida, where it was recently approved by the Florida House of Representatives.

Concerning (b) above: On Wednesday, February 12, 2014 the U.S. Western District Court of Kentucky at Louisville ruled that Kentucky must recognize same-sex marriages performed outside that state, despite Kentucky’s law and constitutional amendment that do not recognize same-sex unions as marriage.

Therefore, Georgia SHOULD pass S.R. 808 as additional protection against any future judicial effort to strike Georgia’s constitutional amendment that defines marriage, prohibits same-sex marriage and prohibits the recognition of same-sex marriage conducted elsewhere.

ACTION – Support. Ask Senate Judiciary Committee members to vote YES on S.R. 808. Call Senators McKoon, Ch., 404 463-3931; Crosby, V.Ch., 463-5258; Bethel, 651-7738; Carter, 463-1376; Cowsert, 463-1383; Fort, 656-5091; Ligon, 656-0045; Stone, 463-1314; and Tippins, 657-0406.

H.B. 895 introduced by Representative Hightower on February 4, 2014 provides that no court, arbitration panel administrative agency, or other tribunal shall enforce a foreign law, if doing so would violate a right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution or the Georgia Constitution. It defines the meaning of foreign law, supports and regulates S.R. 808, a proposed constitutional amendment to prevent the application of foreign law in Georgia courts.

ACTION – Support. Contact House Judiciary Committee Representatives Willard, Ch., 404 656-5124; Fleming, V-Ch., 656-0152; Allison, Sec., 656-0188; Bruce, 656-0314; Caldwell, 656-0325; Evans, 656-6372; Golick, 656-5943; Jacobs, 656-5116; Jones, 656-7859; Kelley, 656-0287; Lindsey, 656-5024; Mabra, 656-7859; Oliver, 656-0265; O’Neal, 656-5052; Powell, 656-7855; Rutledge, 656-0109; Stephenson, 656-0126; Welch, 656-0109; Weldon, 656-0213; and Wilkinson, 463-8143.

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January 31, 2014 Radio Commentary

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“Every Lick is Like Taking a Hit!”

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, January 31, 2014 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. For your information: A U.S. flag flown over the U.S. Capitol on July 4, 2013 was made of hemp, which is an Asiatic herb (cannabis sativa) with tough fibrous stems used in rope-making, sailcloth, etc. Its leaves and flowers are used to make substances such as marijuana and hashish.

Here in Georgia it took years to stop the sale of marijuana-flavored candy in neighborhood stores. The first bill to stop it was designed to protect children from drug use later in life. It was introduced in 2006, but it died.

Representative Judy Manning had death threats after introducing her bill that passed the House in 2007 and the Senate passed it in 2008. But it lay dormant in the Senate until after a group of Cobb County students in white t-shirts with red slogans lobbied at the Capitol on April Fools’ Day, 2008. The students wanted the bill passed to protect their neighborhood, where any child with $4.00 could buy a “pot sucker” or other marijuana-flavored candy. Continue reading →