As the state legislature fights its own battles over the use of medical marijuana by Georgians, the Atlanta City Council is preparing for its own vote on decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana within city limits.
City Councilwoman Kwanza Hall on Tuesday proposed an ordinance that would drastically reduce the penalty for individuals caught with under an ounce of marijuana. Currently that crime is a misdemeanor carrying up to a $1000 fine and 6 month confinement. Under Hall’s proposal, being caught with under an ounce would be a mere $75 fine, no jail time, and no criminal record.
Possessing any amount of marijuana would remain illegal under state as well as federal law.
Earlier this year Democrat state Senator Harold Jones introduced SB 105 which would have similarly reduced punishments for possessing small amounts of marijuana. That bill failed to make it out of the Senate Rules Committee.
The City Council will vote on the proposal at their meeting next week.
See the full text of the proposal HERE.
Big win for Georgia brewers
The craft beer industry rejoiced Wednesday as the Georgia state Senate voted 52-1 in favor of SB 85, a bill which allows among other things direct sale of alcohol to consumers by breweries. The bill now heads to the desk of Governor Nathan Deal, who is expected to sign it into law.
SB 85 has been a multi-year process as Georgia breweries sought to ‘level the playing field’ with surrounding states, most of which already allow direct sales and food service on site. Alcohol distributors, a major lobbying force under the Gold Dome, had to be convinced that allowing more freedom to local breweries wouldn’t hurt their bottom line moving forward. Sometime over the Summer the two sides came to an agreement, and with renewed vigor state Sen. Rick Jeffares dropped SB 85 in late January.
The bill is expected to markedly increase brewery revenue – breweries in states with direct sales average over twice the revenue as those here in Georgia. As existing breweries grow and new ones open, another door opens – the possibility of beer tourism, already popular in nearby cities like Asheville, NC and Charleston, SC.
Said Nick Purdy, head of popular Atlanta brewery Wild Heaven, “We’re thrilled that Georgia is seeing fit to offer basic freedoms to our breweries, which are such great assets. We generate manufacturing jobs, tourism and pay excise taxes. This new legislation will result in Wild Heaven Beer remaining committed long-term to Georgia, thinking more aggressively about expansion and hiring. But most importantly it assures our fans of access to more different exciting beers!”
