Greg Morris
‘State Representative’
(R-Vidalia)
News from the People’s House
This week’s report will touch on a new medical marijuana bill, a new bill concerning illegal marijuana, surprising interest in horse racing, and more details on the proposed pay raises for correction officers in the 2017 budget.
Medical Marijuana. Legislation introduced by Rep. Allen Peake of Macon would expand Georgia’s medical marijuana law. The first committee hearings will be held this week to hear from both supporters and opponents of the measure. The bill calls for six licenses to be issued for the growing and distributing of medical marijuana in Georgia. The marijuana would be available to patients in July of 2017. Last year the General Assembly adopted a measure making it legal for patients with certain medical conditions to possess cannabis oil . Rep. Peake points out that without the production of cannabis oil in Georgia, patients are forced to go to Colorada to obtain it and transfer it across state lines where possession of the cannabis oil is a felony. Governor Deal is opposed to cultivating marijuana in Georgia fearing that will open the door to legalizing the drug for recreational use. Emotions are high on the issue. Rep. Peake resigned as one of Gov. Deals floor leaders over their sharp differences on the issue. More disagreements are sure to follow over this volatile issue.
Pari-mutual Gambling. Casino gambling may have lost some momentum in the early going of the session, but horse racing is picking up steam. Remember, a constitutional amendment to legalize gambling in Georgia is being touted as a way to save HOPE Scholarship funds from being depleted due to declines in ticket revenue and increasing tuition at Georgia’s colleges and universities. Revenue from horse racing in Georgia would bring in an estimated 15 million dollars in the first year alone. That would provide HOPE scholarships for 5500 hundred students. Another development that could make the situation worse is the high probability that Alabama will pass their own lottery this year. A high percentage of lottery sales comes from communities on the Alabama line. An Alabama lottery would have a devastating effect on our lottery sales. Still, I think the main question is our soaring increases in tuition at Georgia’s universities. We are 5th in the nation for increases at 31%. Solve that issue and you go a long way toward saving HOPE.
Senate Bill 254. This measure would change the penalty for having over an ounce of marijuana for personal use from a felony to a misdemeanor. I would be against lessening the penalty for no other reason than I believe it would be bad policy. I do realize many people disagree with me on the dangers of recreational use of marijuana but understand this. People who are convicted of a felony lose voting privileges and eligibility to receive food stamps. The Obama Administration is fighting our efforts to get drug users off the welfare and food stamp rolls through drug testing. We sure don’t want to make it easier for drug abusers to get their hands on my and your hard earned tax dollars.
Public Safety. A little more detail on the Governors budget request for a ten percent raise in salary for correctional officers: the Department of Corrections reports that in one year 2,000 of the 9,000 corrections officers will leave their job within a year. That’s almost a 20% turnover rate. As an entrepreneur I understand that no business can survive long with that unstable of a workforce. The head of Corrections Homer Bryce is a man I have known and trusted for over 20 years tells me salaries are not even competitive with local jails. The 29 million dollars proposed for the 10% salary increases is a lot of money I know. But we are talking about possible life and death situations in our prisons that require a trained and stable workforce. I believe that is a wise investment in public safety.
Representative Greg Morris represents House District 156, which includes Toombs, Montgomery, portions of Appling and Jeff Davis. To reach Rep. Morris call 404-656-5115 or 912-293-0725
Pari-mutual Gambling. Casino gambling may have lost some momentum in the early going of the session, but horse racing is picking up steam. Remember, a constitutional amendment to legalize gambling in Georgia is being touted as a way to save HOPE Scholarship funds from being depleted due to declines in ticket revenue and increasing tuition at Georgia’s colleges and universities. Revenue from horse racing in Georgia would bring in an estimated 15 million dollars in the first year alone. That would provide HOPE scholarships for 5500 hundred students. Another development that could make the situation worse is the high probability that Alabama will pass their own lottery this year. A high percentage of lottery sales comes from communities on the Alabama line. An Alabama lottery would have a devastating effect on our lottery sales. Still, I think the main question is our soaring increases in tuition at Georgia’s universities. We are 5th in the nation for increases at 31%. Solve that issue and you go a long way toward saving HOPE.
Senate Bill 254. This measure would change the penalty for having over an ounce of marijuana for personal use from a felony to a misdemeanor. I would be against lessening the penalty for no other reason than I believe it would be bad policy. I do realize many people disagree with me on the dangers of recreational use of marijuana but understand this. People who are convicted of a felony lose voting privileges and eligibility to receive food stamps. The Obama Administration is fighting our efforts to get drug users off the welfare and food stamp rolls through drug testing. We sure don’t want to make it easier for drug abusers to get their hands on my and your hard earned tax dollars.
Public Safety. A little more detail on the Governors budget request for a ten percent raise in salary for correctional officers: the Department of Corrections reports that in one year 2,000 of the 9,000 corrections officers will leave their job within a year. That’s almost a 20% turnover rate. As an entrepreneur I understand that no business can survive long with that unstable of a workforce. The head of Corrections Homer Bryce is a man I have known and trusted for over 20 years tells me salaries are not even competitive with local jails. The 29 million dollars proposed for the 10% salary increases is a lot of money I know. But we are talking about possible life and death situations in our prisons that require a trained and stable workforce. I believe that is a wise investment in public safety.
Representative Greg Morris represents House District 156, which includes Toombs, Montgomery, portions of Appling and Jeff Davis. To reach Rep. Morris call 404-656-5115 or 912-293-0725
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