A bill that allows the growing and selling of medical marijuana has been approved in the state of Georgia. The bill means that cannabis dispensaries can better serve state residents who have prescriptions for medical marijuana. It will also allow for the cultivation of medical marijuana within state lines.
About Georgia’s Medical Marijuana Bill
Currently, the number of prescribed patients in Georgia sits at 8,400. The bill allows for five production licenses throughout the state to serve the current patient needs. Georgia House Bill 324 includes provisions that the marijuana would be legally grown and distributed.
The bill also specifies that the resulting product would be manufactured, tested, and tracked. When the bill is put into place, every step of the production process will be monitored and controlled.
Despite the bill’s detailed approach, it’s up against significant opposition. In March, the North Georgia Collaborative spoke out against the bill, suggesting that it was “vague” and the process had been rushed.
When proposed, the bill was time-sensitive and there was a short window for evaluation and approval. This impending deadline may have contributed to the belief that the bill wasn’t well thought out. Representative Micah Gravely, the sponsor of the bill, rebutted this, mentioning that this bill had been in the planning stages for several years.
Opposition to Medical Marijuana in Georgia
Part of the opposition has been attributed to the fact that a significant amount of money is involved. As a result, some are questioning the motivation behind the bill. Others feel there are too many unanswered questions to move forward with supporting the bill.
Marijuana has been shown to reduce nausea and alleviate vomiting. Because of this, it can be used to increase appetite and encourage eating in seriously ill individuals. Despite this well-documented benefit, some object to the use of medical marijuana. They feel there’s not enough evidence available to support the efficacy of marijuana in a medicinal capacity.
The North Georgia Collaborative — a group comprised of seven different sheriffs from North Georgia — also felt the bill was scaled inappropriately for the current number of patients. They suggested that additional input from both pharmaceutical boards and law enforcement branches was needed.
As public servants, the North Georgia Collaborative also mentioned the worry that this bill could lead to an uptick in crime. They indicated that medical marijuana could be abused and a concern that there could be an increase in fatal traffic accidents, robberies, and other crimes motivated by marijuana.
Current Status of Legalization of Medical Marijuana in Georgia
Currently, THC oil is legal for medical treatments in Georgia. This legalization first happened in 2015 and may be prescribed for 16 specific medical diagnoses. Though it is legal, residents with prescriptions have not been able to cultivate it. They’re also forbidden from traveling across the Georgia state line with their prescription.
Although it’s allowed to possess THC oil, these patients essentially have no way to legally obtain it. The proposed bill would ensure that those patients with prescriptions have safe access to their needed treatments. Existing alternatives include opioids, which can be highly addictive and are acossiated with dangerous side effects and a risk of overdose.
Unsurprisingly, many who are opposed to the legalization of marijuana in general, have resisted this bill. The Georgia House Bill 324 is specific to medical marijuana. It would still be illegal to use or possess marijuana outside of a valid prescription.
Some residents do feel if the bill passes it may lead to blanket legalization and are in opposition. In response to this, the bill includes a provision that any systems implemented to help patients have access to THC oil be limited in scope.
In the past, people have voiced concern over the legalization of marijuana — even when strictly for medical purposes. Some feel this will increase the likelihood that children will have access to marijuana. They have also voiced fears over the potential for abuse and dependence. There is often confusion over what, exactly, medical marijuana use looks like.
Despite the opposition it faced, Georgia House Bill 324 (also known as the Georgia Hope Act) passed with a vote of 147-16 in the House and 34-20 in the Senate in early April 2019. Shortly thereafter, it was signed into law on April 17, 2019.
The bill limits how much THC can be contained in the product. And it allows in-state facilities to grow, manufacture, and distribute medical marijuana. The passing of the bill positions Georgia as one of the first states in the Southeast to cultivate and distribute low-THC cannabis oil.