A NORML Mom Supports the #Cartersville70

Dee Dawkins-Haigler & I supporting #Cartersville70

On New Year's Eve 2017, I heard fireworks popping off in every direction around Kingston, Georgia, the small rural rail town where I live within Bartow County. A few miles down the road in Bartow's county seat, Cartersville, Georgia, fireworks were also being fired, and a 21-year-old was celebrating her birthday.

While investigating a call from someone who thought they heard gunshots, local policemen found nothing in the area other than the birthday celebration, which they proceeded to raid. Allegedly some attendees were simply asked to go home. Meanwhile, in what seems to be an extreme act of racial profiling, 70 others were arrested and held within the Cartersville jail for three days or more pending charges.

Rumors about a drug and artillery ring flew across the local and national news, but the only contraband actually discovered among all 70 apprehended young people was less than one ounce of marijuana. The case quickly drew the attention of Racquel McGee, a leader of the Atlanta-based Georgia Alliance for Social Justice. Racquel grew up in Cartersville, Georgia, and quickly set about bringing justice to those within her hometown. With the aid of civil-rights minded defense attorney Gerald Griggs, charges against 69 of the #Cartersville70 were dropped, and he is optimistic about the future outcome of the one person still facing charges.

Clearly, the type of marijuana law reform championed by Peachtree NORML, OnePlant United and Georgia Care Project is central to the case of the #Cartersville70. If marijuana were no longer stigmatized, it could be utilized as a versatile medicine and mind-opening form of adult stress relief. Law enforcement would no longer have grounds to disrupt and damage the lives of nonviolent offenders.

The #Cartersville70 also reminds us that marijuana initially received its status as a federally controlled substance—not because of being a hazardous gateway drug—but rather because of its potential as a gateway through which illegal immigrants and marginalized American citizens can enter the prison industrial complex.

While incarcerated, several members of the #Cartersville70 experienced abuse and denial of their basic rights. The arrests themselves also present multiple civil rights violations which have drawn the attention of the NAACP—along with additional social justice organizations, activists, community leaders and politicians. Many of these gathered, alongside members of the #Cartersville70, to speak last night at the Cartersville Civic Center. While all shared their uniquely engaging takes on marijuana and civil rights, the simple through line can be summarized as follows:

Keep learning, being active and speaking your mind—regardless of your color or creed. Remember that it is the American people's right to change laws which feel inherently unjust. Use your right to vote to elect leaders who authentically represent you. 

One such leader, Dee Dawkins-Haigler, pictured with me above, has been active within the Georgia General Assembly since May 2008 and is currently running for Secretary of State. While researching the possibility of introducing marijuana reform to Georgia alongside representative Allen Peake, she has visited Colorado and witnessed the state modeling how to return the profits from the cannabis industry back to the people. “We cannot legislate morality forever,” Dee says. Based on her experience, she says it's time “to let the grown folks decide what they're going to do.” 
 

For those of you who agree, there are a few things you can do right now. While these apply directly to Georgia residents, they can be modified to work anywhere.

1. Come to Atlanta's Gold Dome this Thursday to lobby for state-wide marijuana decriminalization and de-classification. Click here for details.
2. Reach out to local officials to let them know that the #Cartersville70 matters to you. This can happen over the phone, over email or in person at local city council meetings.
3. Write editorials to local papers and post in social media with the hashtag #Cartersville70.
4. Join Peachtree NORML, and keep in touch with me about a new Bartow/Floyd chapter.

Finally, I want to emphasize again the importance of recognizing that marijuana reform is about more than the right to use a plant for medicinal or responsible recreational purposes. It is fundamentally a civil rights issue. As such, it does not exist in a vacuum. It is directly connected to the work of organizations like NAACP, ACLU, Amnesty and more. Personally, I am dedicated to cultivating these connections and bringing them to light with fierce compassion.

As always, if you were moved by my words, please share them. Let this post plant a seed we can grow together.