Georgia lawmakers are considering expanding the medicinal pot program

A bill proposed in Georgia would more than triple the number of medical cannabis licenses in the state while opening the option of cannabis oil for patients.

The legislation, as the Atlanta Journal constitution put it, is an attempt to “restart the state’s stalled medical marijuana program, which is mired in ongoing disputes between companies seeking licenses to manufacture and sell it.” of the drug to compete with patients”.

The bill was reviewed by a State House Committee. If made law, the measure would increase the number of medical cannabis licenses in the state from six to 22. Those licenses “would go to six companies that received preliminary approval from a state agency last year, along with 16 companies protesting that decision,” according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and those licenses “would give the companies until March 30 .June, and then they would have a year to start operations.”

“These companies would then be able to sell, grow, and manufacture medical marijuana oil that must contain no more than 5 percent THC, the compound that gives marijuana users a high,” the newspaper explained. “With a doctor’s approval, patients could buy cannabis oil to treat conditions such as seizures, end-stage cancer and Parkinson’s disease. Over 20,000 people have registered with the state so far, but they still cannot buy the oil they are allowed to consume.”

The Georgia legislature legalized medicinal cannabis in 2015 with the passage of the Haleigh’s Hope Act, which specifically produced legal cannabis oil with no more than five percent THC. But the launch of the program has been sluggish to say the least.

As the Journal-Constitution put it this week, “For seven years, state law has allowed registered patients in Georgia to use medical marijuana oil, but they still have no legal way to purchase it here.”

There are around 15,000 patients registered in Georgia’s medical cannabis program, but they have been forced to purchase their products outside of the state (if not in the illicit market).

As of late 2019, the state had yet to appoint anyone to the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission, a seven-member body tasked with regulating the program and approving which companies can grow and sell medical cannabis.

The commission was created by legislation passed and signed into law by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in the spring of 2019. This act also established mechanisms by which cannabis oil could finally be grown and distributed in the Peach State.

“Over the years I have met with children who are struggling with chronic, debilitating illnesses. I’ve heard of parents struggling with access and losing hope,” Kemp said as he signed the bill. “This compromise legislation has been carefully crafted to provide access to medicinal cannabis oil for those in need. That’s just the right thing.”

In late 2020, the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission began accepting applications from producers interested in manufacturing cannabis in the state, but the six licenses were only granted last summer.

As the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported at the time, the commission “voted unanimously to select the six companies from 69 companies that had applied for licenses” with “[e]Each licensee … is entitled to open five pharmacies.”

In July, those six companies were given “a year to start operations, after contracts were signed following potential protests from losing bidders, to serve patients with conditions including seizure disorders, end-stage cancer and Parkinson’s disease,” the Journal reported. Constitution with two companies that have been granted licenses “to grow 100,000 square feet of indoor medical marijuana oil cultivation space” and four others that have been selected to “operate smaller production facilities with 50,000 square feet of cultivation space.”

Last May, Kemp signed a bill that will allow around 30 licensed medical cannabis dispensaries in Georgia to also sell CBD with a low THC content.