First Slice 1-10-14: House Speaker David Ralston open to the idea of legalizing medical marijuana

• Joeff Davis/CL File
• Georgia House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge, District 7)

Georgia House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge, District 7) announced that he is open to the idea of legalizing medical marijuana. “I have some concerns about it quite frankly but I think, let’s take the politics out of it, and look at the science and hear the medical professionals.”

According to a new study from the Education Week Research Center, Georgia ranks 17 in the nation when it comes to K-12 achievement. This index examines 18 different types of state achievement including “reading and math performances, high school graduation rates, and the results of Advanced Placement exams.” Issues relating to closing gaps in equity, poverty and access are also built into the index.

The chair of DeKalb’s legislative delegation said yesterday that he is doubtful that proposed cityhood legislation for Lakeside, Tucker, Briarcliff, and Stonecrest will pass this year. The groups pushing for cityhood accuse Dekalb’s government of being inefficient and turgid. Opponents of the cityhood efforts are concerned about the ramifications of cutting out important tax bases that would negatively impact the rest of the county. Also the city groups have not coordinated their efforts so several of the proposed boundaries overlap.

For the first time in our nation’s history, more than half of the 534 current members of Congress are millionaires. According to a new report from the non-profit Center for Responsive Politics, at least 268 have an average net worth of $1 million or more. Cash (democratically?) Rules Everything Around Me - dollar, dollar bill y’all.