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Georgia has taken another step to increase access to cannabis and THC in the state.
On Tuesday, Gov. Brian Kemp signed the Georgia Patients First Act (SB 220), which expands the legality of medical marijuana use after the legislative session ended earlier this year.
The bill replaces “low THC oil” with “medical marijuana” and refocuses product use on people with medical conditions rather than recreational use.
What does the Medical Cannabis Act include?
SB 220 would eliminate Georgia’s 5% THC concentration cap on medical marijuana products, allowing patients to have 12,000 milligrams of medical marijuana as long as the drug container is labeled.
It will also expand the types of THC products that can be sold at Georgia dispensaries. Edibles, gummies, and vaporized flower will be legal to sell under the new potency level.
People prescribed medical cannabis will also no longer need to undergo annual certification, even if they have an “incurable” or “irreversible” condition. The bill’s registry of diseases has also been expanded to include lupus, autism, stage III HIV, severe Alzheimer’s disease, and inflammatory bowel disease.
THC production facilities must be 3,000 feet away from schools and churches. Out-of-state medical marijuana registration cards are available in Georgia for a 45-day supply, and under the new law, registration cards are valid for five years.
At some point, registration will also be required to move to electronic registration cards through the Ministry of Health, although the timeline for this change is not clearly stated in the bill.
The new law still prohibits smoking or burning medical marijuana, but allows vaporization for people over 21 who use THC for medical purposes.
Is marijuana legal in Georgia?
Even with the new changes, most medical and recreational uses of marijuana remain illegal in Georgia.
The sale or possession of marijuana in leaf form and the manufacture or sale of marijuana in any quantity or amount remain illegal. Penalties for possession can include hefty fines and even jail time.
Marijuana itself has not been legalized for medical use. Only low-potency THC, called medical marijuana, is legal for medical use.
What is the difference between THC, marijuana, and CBD?
Marijuana refers to the entire Cannabis sativa plant, while THC is a compound derived from the marijuana plant. There are over 100 types of “cannabinoids” that can be obtained from the marijuana plant.
THC and CBD are the best-known and most commonly used cannabinoids.
THC is an acronym for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, which refers to the cannabinoid that produces the “high” sensation from marijuana. THC is most often sold in oil form, but it can also be sold in edibles, herbs, and flowers.
Although closely related to THC, CBD is not psychoactive and therefore does not give users a “high” response. CBD is much easier to find and less restrictive in many states. CBD comes in the form of oils, extracts, patches, e-cigarettes, or topical lotions and is used for a variety of health benefits.
Eileen Wright covers Georgia politics as an Atlanta Connect reporter for USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. X Find her at @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
