Category: Randomness
Georgia Lawmaker Wants To Reduce Marijuana Possesion To A Misdemeanor
ATLANTA – A state lawmaker hopes to change marijuana possession from a felony to a misdemeanor in Georgia.
Senator Harold Jones, II, D – Augusta, held a news conference to announce the filing of Senate Bill 254. The bill would change possession to a misdemeanor under state law.
“It’s not just criminal justice reform, it’s human rights reform. And if the prosecutor has looked at all the facts and said this person isn’t selling this. I know it’s a lot, but this person isn’t selling it, it’s for personal use. Why then should that person then lose, potentially, so much?”
The former prosecutor said the consequences of a felony conviction can ruin someone’s life, making him or her ineligible to receive some college scholarships, serve on a jury or vote.
Jones stressed that his bill would not legalize nor decriminalize marijuana and people caught selling the drug would still be charged with a felony.
SB 254 does not limit the amount of marijuana someone can possess, as long as it is for his or her own use.
While many people support the bill, Jones said he has not heard from Governor Nathan Deal on the proposition.
Originally posted on FOX5 News
Governor ‘Apologizes’ For Flint Water Crisis
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, facing protests, lawsuits and calls for his resignation over drinking water contamination in Flint, apologized to the city’s residents and said the state will spend $28 million on fixing the issue.
“To you, the people of Flint, I say tonight as I have before, I am sorry and I will fix it”
Snyder, a Republican, asked lawmakers to authorize $28 million in spending on diagnostic tests, health treatment for children and adolescents, replacement of old fixtures in Flint schools and day care centers and a study of the city’s water pipes. He also said additional funding would be needed.
Some people have reported rashes, hair loss and other problems since Flint, under a state-appointed emergency manager, switched to Flint River water in April 2014 from a Detroit-run water system to save money, attorneys for the residents said.
Complaints about the water began within a month of the switch, but Flint did not return to Detroit water until October 2015 after tests showed elevated levels of lead in Flint tap water and in some children.
The corrosive river water caused more lead to leach from Flint pipes than Detroit water did, increasing contaminants in the tap water.
President Barack Obama met on Tuesday with recently elected Flint Mayor Karen Weaver over the crisis, which has become part of the U.S. presidential debate with candidates on both sides questioning the slow response.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it acted too slowly to address the situation in Flint.
Snyder promised to release his Flint-related emails from 2014 and 2015 on Wednesday. He has rejected calls for his resignation by some protesters.
“Lansing failed in one of its most basic functions, ensuring the well-being and health of our citizens,” state House Democratic Leader Tim Greimel said after the speech.
At least 1,000 people protested at the Capitol on Tuesday, some holding baby bottles filled with brown water.
“The governor has a business agenda and his business agenda was to take over the water to profit in it,” said Lila Cabbil, a demonstrator from Detroit.
Several lawsuits have been filed. The latest on Tuesday asks a judge to stop Flint from issuing shutoff notices to residents, who are still receiving bills for water declared undrinkable.
Originally posted on Fortune
The Pen Hustle With Brandy Cavalli 
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