SUDOKU BREAK Solution on pg. 4
Many Georgia Counties No
Longer Arresting for Misdemeanor Marijuana Cases P rosecutors in Gwinnett and Cobb Counties have announced they will not be prosecuting misdemeanor marijuana cases under the current law, citing uncertainty created by Georgia’s new hemp farming law as the reason for their decision. They say that under the new Georgia Hemp Farming Act, it’s hard to determine whether the chemical composition of a suspected contraband makes it legal or illegal. Prosecutors say they can’t distinguish between what is hemp and what is marijuana. In July, it became legal for hemp to be grown in Georgia. Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force Commander DeWayne Brown told reporters the new law made it legal for certain CBD products to contain 0.3% or less of THC. The Georgia Department of Agriculture lists the threshold THC concentration level separating hemp from marijuana is 0.3%. Anything less than that is classified as hemp. Gwinnett County Solicitor General Whiteside said Gwinnett officials are facing a testing issue: If they find something that could be hemp or marijuana, they don’t have the tools to determine the THC level. “There is no machine that we have certified in Georgia at this point for plants — that I know of — that is up and certified and can differentiate cannabis from hemp,” Whiteside said. Although the production and sale of hemp is now legal in Georgia, the state does have some limitations on who is allowed to grow it. Only growers licensed by the Georgia Department of Agriculture will be allowed to grow and produce it. The Georgia Department of Agriculture is still developing regulations for hemp production, and the agency is not issuing hemp production licenses until those rules are established. Supposedly, the Georgia Crime Lab is working to develop a test to distinguish between hemp and marijuana based on THC percentage. Currently, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation uses a test for the presence of THC and not for the concentration of THC. Look for Georgia legislature to correct this problem in the next legislative session, which begins in January, as they did not anticipate this when they originally passed the bill during the 2019 session. But for now, it appears that folks can possess small amounts of pot without fear of prosecution.
Basil Berry Sorbet
Inspired by Good Housekeeping
Unlike standard ice cream recipes, this delicious sorbet doesn’t require fancy equipment or difficult prep. It’s also entirely dairy-free, making it the perfect vegan treat for the end of summer.
Ingredients
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1 cup sugar
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1 cup fresh basil leaves
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6 cups frozen mixed berries
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3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
Directions
1. In a saucepan over high heat, combine sugar with 1 cup of water, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves, creating a syrup-like consistency. 2. Remove syrup from heat, add basil, cover, and let stand for 15 minutes. Strain syrup into bowl and refrigerate until cold. 3. In a blender, combine syrup with frozen berries and lemon juice. Purée until smooth. 4. Transfer to a square baking pan, cover in plastic wrap, and freeze until set, about 2 hours. 5. Scoop and serve.
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