I Investigated Georgia's Cannabis Corruption

Support Couch Lock News on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/couchlocknews Georgia's medical cannabis law says out-of-state patients can purchase. The state's own commission says there's no reciprocity. That contradiction was just the front door. Behind it: an 8-year wait between legalization and the first legal sale. 69 companies applied for 6 licenses, and the winners include a board with a former congressman who voted against medical marijuana his entire career, plus a company whose CEO's husband was convicted of federal public corruption 12 days after the license was awarded. A sitting state rep admitted on camera she consulted for an applicant and never disclosed it. And the patient registry the state used to justify all of it was inflated by 260%. They were counting expired cards and dead people. I went to GA read the bill, called the dispensaries, and pulled every record I could find. Every source is below. Support Independent Journalism @ https://www.patreon.com/cw/couchlocknews https://www.parabolacenter.com/crashcourse/ SOURCES: THE LAW vs. THE STATE • SB 220 full bill text (Georgia General Assembly): https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/235487 • O.C.G.A. § 16-12-191: https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-16/chapter-12/article-8/section-16-12-191/ • Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission FAQ ("no reciprocity"): https://www.gmcc.ga.gov/faqs THE DEA & THE PHARMACIES • WSB-TV, DEA warning letters to Georgia pharmacies: https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/independent-pharmacies-receiving-threatening-letters-dea-about-selling-medical-marijuana/XZRM45ZGKNH5DBVRN42JD7DPEM/ • NORML, DEA letters to independent pharmacies: https://norml.org/news/2023/12/14/georgia-dea-sends-warning-letters-to-independent-pharmacies-seeking-to-dispense-state-licensed-cannabis-products/ THE LICENSES • AJC, "Secrecy and protests surround Georgia medical marijuana companies" (Tom Price, Allen Peake "height of hypocrisy"): https://www.ajc.com/politics/secrecy-and-protests-surround-georgia-medical-marijuana-companies/NUFYAVSDONHAZPG5T7KYTN2LDI/ • Fox 5 Atlanta, Florida public corruption conviction linked to winning Georgia applicant (Burnette/Trulieve): https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/florida-public-corruption-conviction-linked-to-winning-applicant-in-georgia-medical-marijuana-awards • Fox 5 I-Team, partner admitted to paying a bribe for a license: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnB6H5IHiFk • Fox 5 Atlanta, Rep. Deborah Silcox consulted for a license applicant: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/georgia-medical-marijuana-representative-consulted-bid-process • Judson Hill Jr. podcast interview: [YOUR CLIP LINK] THE GHOST PATIENT REGISTRY • AJC, "Miscount inflated number of Georgia medical marijuana patients": https://www.ajc.com/politics/georgia-overstated-number-of-medical-marijuana-patients/5EBK4OMWONDZ3LLWFOTYZZBOPQ/ 00:00 Introduction: Georgia's New Medical Cannabis Law 00:19 SB 220 Changes Everything 00:40 My Attempt to Use Georgia's Reciprocity Law 00:52 Two Dispensaries, Two Completely Different Answers 02:24 Why I Couldn't Make a Purchase 02:48 Reading the Actual Text of SB 220 03:41 The Law vs. Georgia's Official Website 04:30 Georgia's Six Cannabis License Holders 04:50 License #1: Botanical Sciences & Tom Price 05:42 License #2: Trulieve & Kim Rivers 06:07 License #3: Fine Fettle & Political Connections 06:42 Lawmakers, Consultants & Conflict of Interest 07:36 The 50,000 Patient Count Scandal 08:27 Why Georgia's Program Isn't Functioning 09:20 Final Thoughts: What Would Have Happened?