{"id":2054,"date":"2021-10-29T01:28:58","date_gmt":"2021-10-29T01:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/wp-home\/?p=183010"},"modified":"2021-10-29T01:28:58","modified_gmt":"2021-10-29T01:28:58","slug":"how-a-georgia-medical-marijuana-card-changed-my-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=2054","title":{"rendered":"How a Georgia medical marijuana card changed my life"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>  <title>How a Georgia medical marijuana card changed my life &#8211; Leafly<\/title>     <!-- This is Index Exchange, a script\/\/3rd-party integration that interjects GAM. It needs to be 'ahead' of GTM in the DOM, which comes from Cephalopod. GTM loads GAM. 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You&#8217;re not old enough to use Leafly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"hidden age-gate__loading\">Redirecting you to<span class=\"redirect-domain\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-xs mt-auto\">By accessing this site, you accept<br \/>\nthe <a class=\"py-xl\" data-testid=\"tou-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/info\/terms-of-use\">Terms of Use<\/a><br \/>\nand <a class=\"py-xl\" data-testid=\"pp-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/info\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container my-xl\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col md:col-9\" id=\"article-content\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">I don\u2019t even smoke in my car. But when a cop stops me now, they can\u2019t use \u201ccannabis odor\u201d as probable cause to hassle me.<\/p>\n<p>The \u201ccause\u201d is right here on my card, officer.<\/p>\n<p>I take CBD and <a href=\"https:\/\/dph.georgia.gov\/low-thc-oil-registry\/low-thc-oil-registry-faq\/low-thc-oil-faq-general-public\">low-THC oil<\/a> to treat PTSD from being incarcerated. <\/p>\n<p>So I don\u2019t have to worry anymore about officers trashing my car because they <em>think <\/em>they smell something.<\/p>\n<p>According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/dph.georgia.gov\/low-thc-oil-registry\/low-thc-oil-registry-faq\/low-thc-oil-faq-general-public\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Georgia\u2019s Department of Public Health<\/a>, the state\u2019s \u201cmedical marijuana law allows certain qualified persons to legally possess up to 20 fluid ounces of \u2018low THC oil,\u2019 which is derived from the marijuana plant.\u201d A \u201cLow THC Oil Registry Card\u201d held by a qualified person authorizes them to have the oil and protects them from arrest.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" alt class=\"wp-image-183129 has-ll lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/how-a-georgia-medical-marijuana-card-changed-my-life-1.jpg,compress&amp;w=550 550w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/how-a-georgia-medical-marijuana-card-changed-my-life-1.jpg,compress&amp;w=740 740w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/how-a-georgia-medical-marijuana-card-changed-my-life-1.jpg,compress&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/how-a-georgia-medical-marijuana-card-changed-my-life-1.jpg,compress&amp;w=1480 1480w\"><figcaption>Georgia native Ross Turner is a recent college graduate. His medical marijuana card makes life far less stressful in a state that still practices prohibition. (courtesy of DJ Smallz Eyes)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"h-living-with-a-marijuana-conviction\">Living with a marijuana conviction<\/h2>\n<p>As a 22-year-old Black man with a cannabis charge, being seen as a menace in the eyes of the law is not the thrill that\u2019s portrayed in entertainment.<\/p>\n<p>The idea that I\u2019ve lost credibility and the admiration of cohorts, childhood friends, and family causes an anxiety that\u2019s hard to escape at times.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes, I feel my whole life\u2019s journey could be determined by how one person in a single moment happens to feel about weed. <\/p>\n<p>On paperwork, it\u2019s often that simple. Unless you are fortunate enough to get your record expunged.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-why-i-use-cannabis\">Why I use cannabis<\/h2>\n<p>I started smoking at an early age, mostly to fit in at kickbacks and community gatherings.<\/p>\n<p>After partaking, I noticed that any frustration or aggression I felt toward teachers or classmates suddenly dwindled. Instead of behaving irrationally in tense moments, the cannabis instilled alignment and inner-peace.<\/p>\n<p>As an adult, cannabis became part of my self-care routine. I smoke to control anxiety and racing thoughts. Cannabis also helps to dull the agitation inspired by the menial state of our society.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-how-i-got-the-card\">How I got the card<\/h2>\n<p>During the last six months of my incarceration for cannabis possession, the thought dawned on me: \u201cHow am I going to use cannabis while serving a grueling probation term?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One day, an inmate informed me that he went to a THC doctor and enrolled for a low-THC oil registration card. I didn\u2019t fully buy into it at the time.<\/p>\n<p>But when I came home from prison at the beginning of 2021, I scheduled an appointment with <a href=\"https:\/\/doctors.piedmont.org\/provider\/Kristin+Mary+Gore\/388642\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Kristin Mary Gore<\/a> for $50, with a remaining $200 due before the start of the appointment.<\/p>\n<p>Turned out to be some of the best advice I\u2019ve ever received.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-how-the-card-has-changed-my-life\">How the card has changed my life<\/h2>\n<p>The main thing I\u2019ve seen this card do is shift the attitudes of government and law officials.<\/p>\n<p>Before my probation officer was informed of my oil card, she was ready to violate my probation and send me back to prison at the slightest hot piss test. The card changed all of that.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" alt=\"police-marijuana-arrest\" class=\"wp-image-136022 has-ll lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/how-a-georgia-medical-marijuana-card-changed-my-life-2.jpg,compress&amp;w=550 550w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/how-a-georgia-medical-marijuana-card-changed-my-life-2.jpg,compress&amp;w=740 740w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/how-a-georgia-medical-marijuana-card-changed-my-life-2.jpg,compress&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/how-a-georgia-medical-marijuana-card-changed-my-life-2.jpg,compress&amp;w=1480 1480w\"><figcaption>Police have used cannabis prohibition as a pretext to hassle and arrest Black people, and other people of color, for decades. Police agencies not only enforce these unjust laws, they help create them, protect them, and increase the human suffering that flows from them. (AdobeStock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Police officers also feel less compelled to trash my car once they\u2019re informed of my medical condition.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a perspective switch. Amazingly, the slightest change in perspective can be the difference between a warning and prison time.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-the-ptsd-of-being-arrested-for-weed\">The PTSD of being arrested for weed<\/h2>\n<p>The anxiety I feel from even minor police contact is somewhat comical. The fear and physical response is almost instant. The blue and red lights are the trigger. I always assume they\u2019re coming for me.<\/p>\n<p>When I am stopped, I feel the need to beg and pray for the chance to take out my license and insurance without them thinking I\u2019m making sudden movements.<\/p>\n<p>Every recent protest and murdered Black person comes through my head when I\u2019m in direct contact with law enforcement. How can I make sure not to make any mistakes that trigger my death? <\/p>\n<p>The card has helped me approach these intense situations more calmly.<\/p>\n<p>Blue and red lights still send my mind back to the back of a cop car. But now, my mind just prays for the next victim\u2019s safety as the sirens speed away from me.<\/p>\n<p>When I\u2019m let go after a traffic stop and finally pull away, my heart is beating so fast it feels like I just got away with murder. <\/p>\n<p>Cannabis should never involve that much stress.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img width=\"1024\" height=\"640\" alt class=\"wp-image-104332 has-ll lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/how-a-georgia-medical-marijuana-card-changed-my-life-3.jpg,compress&amp;w=550 550w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/how-a-georgia-medical-marijuana-card-changed-my-life-3.jpg,compress&amp;w=740 740w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/how-a-georgia-medical-marijuana-card-changed-my-life-3.jpg,compress&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/how-a-georgia-medical-marijuana-card-changed-my-life-3.jpg,compress&amp;w=1480 1480w\"><figcaption>Underage possession and illegal sales now make up the bulk of cannabis arrests in adult-use states. (CSA-Archive\/iStock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It\u2019s time for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/politics\/entertainers-athletes-double-down-on-biden\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S. government<\/a> to legalize medical and adult use and free the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lastprisonerproject.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">over 40,000<\/a> citizens still serving non-violent cannabis convictions.<\/p>\n<p>Though recreational use remains illegal throughout Georgia, cities including Atlanta and Savannah have decriminalized or otherwise reduced penalties for possession of less than one ounce.<\/p>\n<p><em>Note from the <a href=\"https:\/\/dph.georgia.gov\/low-thc-oil-registry\/low-thc-oil-registry-faq\/low-thc-oil-faq-general-public\">Georgia DPH<\/a>\u2018s site: \u201cThe law only authorizes the legal possession of up to 20 fluid ounces of low THC oil by qualified persons. It does not make the sale or possession of all types of marijuana legal in Georgia. Possession of any form of marijuana by an unauthorized person is and remains a violation of state and federal law.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"author-box\" class=\"p-lg my-xxl bg-white rounded border border-light-grey elevation-low\">\n<div class=\"mb-lg\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/how-a-georgia-medical-marijuana-card-changed-my-life.jpg\" alt=\"Ross Turner's Bio Image\" class=\"lazyload inline-block mr-md rounded-full border border-light-grey\"> <\/p>\n<p>Ross Turner<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"text-sm\">Ross Turner is a Georgia native and recent college graduate currently residing in Atlanta. He is a writer, artist, and entrepreneur with a passion for exotic flower.<\/p>\n<p> <a class=\"text-sm font-bold underline text-green\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/author\/ross-turner\">View Ross Turner&#8217;s articles<\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"leafly-sailthru-signup p-lg my-xl bg-white rounded elevation-low border border-light-grey\">\n<p class=\"text-xs pt-lg\">By submitting this form, you will be subscribed to news and promotional emails from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\">Leafly<\/a> and you agree to Leafly&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/company\/tos\">Terms of Service<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/company\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a>. You can unsubscribe from Leafly email messages anytime.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- Chartbeat --> <!-- End Chartbeat -->  <!--\nPerformance optimized by W3 Total Cache. Learn more: https:\/\/www.boldgrid.com\/w3-total-cache\/ Served from: _ @ 2021-10-28 19:53:03 by W3 Total Cache\n--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How a Georgia medical marijuana card changed my life &#8211; Leafly Leafly Leafly \u00ae Loading\u2026 Where are you from? noyes Remember me for 30 days. I confirm that this is not a shared device. Darn! You&#8217;re not old enough to use Leafly. Redirecting you to By accessing this site, you accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. I don\u2019t even smoke in my car. But when a cop stops me now, they can\u2019t use \u201ccannabis odor\u201d as probable cause to hassle me. The \u201ccause\u201d is right here on my card, officer. I take CBD and low-THC oil to treat&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2055,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2054","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marijuana_information"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/how-a-georgia-medical-marijuana-card-changed-my-life.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2054","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2054"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2054\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2054"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2054"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2054"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}