“Moving the needle on decreasing the severity of marijuana penalties in the state of Georgia is something I have committed my leadership to from a legislative standpoint. It is where I saw we could start. In 2015, I introduced a bill to the Georgia General Assembly proposing all marijuana offenses be reduced to misdemeanor charges, causing an uproar. I knew we had to get the conversation up on the map -- and we were successful in doing so.
“Since the Nixon administration and the Nixon Commission on Marijuana in the 1970’s, the findings have been -- by Congress and experts -- that we need to move away from felonies and move towards decriminalization of marijuana. But that is not what happened at that time in our nation’s history. And, until recently, that is not what has been happening in the state of Georgia.
“Political agendas, fueled by the divisiveness of racial discrimination, have been winning over the data -- data we have had since the 1970’s. The African American community -- along with other communities -- has been decimated by the war on drugs. The shame of all of this: African Americans have been victimized and kept out of the mainstream of economic and social advancement -- especially over the last 50 years -- through drug incarceration, but particularly marijuana. When the doors open for economic opportunities in the legalization of hemp and marijuana, African Americans stand the greatest risk of being excluded from the millions if not billions of dollars that will be made.
“This is arguably the greatest civil rights issue of our times -- and if we don’t stand up now, we will be holding symposiums on “What Happened?”. And that will be shameful, if we let that happen.
“I stand with American Kinetics LLC and the G20 Global Healing Summit to shine the largest spotlight possible on the situation, and ask that they continue to partner with me and others in the Georgia General Assembly as we stand in -- and close -- the tremendous gap left in reducing the sentencing and ultimate decriminalizing of marijuana possession. Research has produced data -- and more research needs to continue to be done -- that points to the medicinal value of marijuana for many of us. That could be healing.
“I thank the G20 Global Healing Summit Virtual News Conference for the opportunity to deliver this statement.”
-- Sen. Harold Jones
Georgia State Senate
District 22
“We definitely want to be able to use the G420 Global Healing Summit platform as a way to educate our state legislators, city councils, and county commissions on the broad spectrum of data and research in this area, especially from a public health perspective, where the need is so great to develop affordable healing alternatives.
“And, we’re clear this year, we are operating inside a shelter-where-we are situation. We are urging 420 advocates and activists and those who traditionally come out on April 20th to show their support by staying at home this year, staying safe and well.
“But that doesn’t mean that we shut down the critical work that we are doing, especially in the area of education. They say, when one door closes, another opens. This is the perfect time to catch our elected officials at home, and share the data and research we know can make a difference, whether it’s in decriminalizing aspects of marijuana laws, or pursuing medicinal CBD uses in the area of mental health. The level of anxiety around our country is palpable right now. There is data that supports the medicinal use of CBD oil for mental health. We must continue working.”
-- Former Georgia State Senator Curt Thompson
Keynote Speaker, G420 Global Healing Summit
The COVID-19 stay at home orders have had very little effect on my day to day operations as the majority of my work is internet based to begin with. What has been an issue is the shutdown of the Legislature which has hindered our ability to interface with the our law makers towards reducing the legal burdens on our farmers and the potential for the hemp industry as a whole. The lock down has forced many to adopt on-line meeting and collaboration platforms, which will be helpful to everyone in the long run. I can only hope that during this shelter in place, many will be studying the foundations of our government and realize how far afield it has grown outside of its Constitutional constraints, and then start to do act towards demanding a massive reduction in its size and scope.
-- Ted
Metz, 2018 Libertarian Gubernatorial Candidate
G420 Expert Speaker, CFO Georgia Hemp Industries, Hemp Business Bureau
“The COVID-19 crisis is one that is unprecedented. Not since the 1918 Spanish flu have, we seen a virus that has had this impact. We are fighting an enemy that doesn’t sleep, doesn’t discriminate, and targets the elderly, poor, and those with health issues.
“Therefore, postponing the FreakNik Festival was a no-brainer because human lives come first and foremost.
“It is our hope that the world can come together and collectively do what’s necessary to defeat this enemy. We hope this virus highlights the disparity in health and the need for my African brothers and sisters to re-evaluate their health choices. We as a community must learn how to eat to live, versus living to eat.
“The #1 killer of African Americans is cardiovascular disease. 3.2 million African Americans have diabetes, yet more than 33% do not know it. Low Vitamin D has been associated with several types of cancer as well as certain autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus. These diseases are all music to Coronavirus’ ears and are something that every household needs to evaluate moving forward.
“Together we will overcome this enemy, but there is much work to be done. It is our hope that our partnership with American Kinetics LLC and our focus on health in the community allows us to improve the lives of everyone. Because, while African Americans’ death from COVID-19 is appalling, these health issues impact everyone.”
-- Carlos Neal, Principal
After 9 Partners, LLC
“I am honored to be able to represent Peachtree N.O.R.M.L., the official local affiliate of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws located in Washington, D.C. at today’s Virtual News Conference being held by American Kinetics LLC and the G420 Global Healing Summit.
“At Peachtree N.O.R.M.L., we’ve been committed to the reform of marijuana laws, including medicinal marijuana. We advocate for changes in the law that support patients. Although we have had some legislative changes in Georgia, with a projected availability of medicinal marijuana in the state of Georgia by January 2021, there is still nobody that is able to grow it, as of yet.
“What needs to be understood by everybody, is marijuana/medicinal marijuana is being decriminalized everywhere. It’s time for the old stigma to fall away. We need to be looking at how healing and pain-relieving this plant can be.
“We will continue our efforts, in partnership with American Kinetics LLC and the G420 Global Healing Summit, to ensure we move public opinion in the state of Georgia such that legislative change is made, and responsible use of cannabis by adults is no longer subject to penalty.”
-- Tom McCain
Executive Director
Peachtree N.O.R.M.L.
Retired Georgia Peace Officer
Retired Air Force Veteran
“It is one of the world’s recognized human rights, as outlined in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights affirms. ‘Healing is a human right and deserves to be sustained in the dawn of the 21st century.’ That’s the vision of the G420 Global Healing Summit. American Kinetics LLC and its Director J’Lyn Furby has been at the forefront of utilizing 21st century technologies in the area of health and wellness, making those technologies accessible in the realm of public health and policy, empowering small businesses to benefit from utilizing technology. That’s the kind of forward-thinking leadership State of Georgia’s Outstanding Business American Kinetics LLC has provided since 2013. J’Lyn’s willingness to share and show other small businesses the way forward now, since COVID-19 and mandatory shelter-in-place orders, is a continuation of that very same kind of leadership.”
-- Al Bartell,
Public Policy Stakeholder
G420 Global Healing Summit
American Kinetics LLC
Media Contact: American Kinetics LLC
Name: J'Lyn Furby
Title: Media Coordinator
Phone: 404-587-3504
