How a Georgia medical marijuana card changed my life
With my card, the police stopped harassing me because I smelled of weed
I don’t even smoke in my car. But if a police officer stops me now, they can’t use “cannabis smell” as a likely reason to harass me.
The “cause” is on my card here, officer.
I use low-THC CBD and oil to treat PTSD after incarceration.
So I no longer have to worry about cops ravaging my car thinking they smell something.
According to the Georgia Department of Health, the state’s medical marijuana law allows certain qualified individuals to legally possess up to 20 fluid ounces of ‘low THC oil’ obtained from the marijuana plant. A “Low THC Oil Registry Card” in the possession of a qualified person entitles them to possession of the oil and protects them from arrest.
Living with a Cannabis Belief
As a 22-year-old black man with a cannabis charge, being seen as a threat in the eyes of the law isn’t the thrill portrayed in the conversation.
The idea that I have lost credibility and the admiration of cohorts, childhood friends, and family creates a fear that is sometimes difficult to escape.
Sometimes I feel that the journey of life can be determined by how a person thinks about weed in a single moment.
It’s often that simple on paper. Unless you’re lucky enough to get an erasure.
Why I use cannabis
I started smoking early, mostly to attend kickbacks and community meetings.
After attending, I noticed that any aggression I felt toward teachers or classmates immediately subsided. And instead of behaving irrationally, the cannabis conveyed attitude and serenity.
As an adult, cannabis became part of my self-care routine. I smoke to control fear and racing thoughts. Cannabis also helps dampen the excitement inspired by the low progress of our society.
How I got the card
During the last six months of my cannabis possession imprisonment, the thought dawned on me, “How should I consume cannabis while serving a grueling suspended sentence?”
One day an inmate informed me that he had gone to a THC doctor and signed up for a low-THC oil registration card. I didn’t really get into it at the time.
But when I got home from prison in early 2021, I made an appointment with Dr. Kristin Mary Gore for $ 50 with the remaining $ 200 due before the appointment began.
Turned out to be one of the best pieces of advice I received.
How the card changed my life
The main thing I’ve seen with this card is to change the attitudes of government and judicial officials.
Before my probation officer was informed of my oil card, she was ready to break my parole and send me back to jail for the smallest hot piss test. The map changed all that.
Police officers also feel less compelled to dispose of my car once they are informed of my health.
It’s a change of perspective. Amazingly, the slightest change in perspective can mean the difference between a warning and a prison sentence.
The PTSD, about to be arrested for weed
The fear that I feel when I have just made contact with the police is a bit strange. The fear and physical reaction are almost instantaneous. The blue and red lights are the trigger. I always assume that they will get me.
When stopped, I have to beg and pray for a chance to get my driver’s license and insurance without them thinking I’m making any sudden movements.
Each of the recent protests and murdered blacks comes through my mind when I am in direct contact with law enforcement agencies. How can I ensure that no mistakes are made that will trigger my death?
The map helped me to approach these tense situations more calmly.
Blue and red lights still direct my mind back to the back of a police car. But now my mind just prays for the safety of the next victim as the sirens race away from me.
When I’m let go after a traffic stop and finally drive off, my heart beats so fast it feels like I just got away with a murder.
Cannabis should never be associated with so much stress.
It’s time the entire country legalized medicinal and adult use, and released the 40,000+ citizens who are still serving non-violent cannabis convictions.
Although recreational use is illegal across Georgia, cities like Atlanta and Savannah have decriminalized or otherwise reduced penalties for possessing less than an ounce.
Note from the Georgia DPH website: “The law allows only qualified persons to legally possess up to 20 fluid ounces of low-THC oil. It makes it illegal to sell or possess any type of marijuana in Georgia. Possession of any form of marijuana by an unauthorized person is and will remain a violation of state and federal law. “
Ross Turner
Ross Turner is a native of Georgia and a recent college graduate who currently resides in Atlanta. He is a writer, artist and entrepreneur with a passion for exotic flowers.
View article by Ross Turner
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