Georgia’s first medicinal cannabis dispensaries opened

There are almost 30,000 registered medical cannabis patients in Georgia, but for years they have had no opportunity to legally purchase and obtain the product prescribed to them.

That all changed Friday when the state’s first medical marijuana dispensaries opened their doors to the public.

Medical cannabis company Trulieve stands behind every retailer in Macon and Marietta.

“We believe that access to medical cannabis makes life better, and Trulieve is proud to be the first to bring this access to the state of Georgia,” said Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers in a press release. “We look forward to providing high quality products and a premium experience.”

The Georgia legislature legalized medicinal cannabis treatment in 2015 with the passage of the Haleigh’s Hope Act. The bill made it legal for doctors to prescribe cannabis oil with no more than 5% THC to patients suffering from a variety of qualifying medical conditions. These conditions, according to the state’s Medical Cannabis Commission, are: “Cancer when such diagnosis is terminal or treatment produces an associated wasting disease or recalcitrant nausea and vomiting; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis if this diagnosis is severe or end-stage; seizure disorders associated with diagnosis of epilepsy or traumatic head injury; multiple sclerosis if this diagnosis is severe or end-stage; Crohn’s disease; mitochondrial disease; Parkinson’s disease if this diagnosis is severe or end-stage; sickle cell anemia if this diagnosis is severe or end-stage; Tourette’s syndrome, if such a syndrome is diagnosed as severe; Autism Spectrum Disorder if (a) the patient is 18 years of age or older, or (b) the patient is less than 18 years of age and has been diagnosed with severe autism; epidermolysis bullosa; Alzheimer’s disease when this disease is severe or end-stage; AIDS when such syndrome is severe or end-stage; Peripheral neuropathy when symptoms are severe or end-stage; The patient is in a hospice program, either inpatient or outpatient; intractable pain; [and] Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder resulting from direct exposure to or witnessing trauma in a patient at least 18 years of age.”

However, full implementation of the law has been hampered by regulatory delays, even as the number of registered medical cannabis patients in the state has continued to increase. Around 27,000 Georgians are currently registered in the program.

“Today is a fresh start for Georgia’s more than 27,000 registered medical patients,” Rivers said in Friday’s news release. “Trulieve is equally excited and humbled to have the first two medical cannabis dispensaries in the state, serving both the Macon and Marietta communities, on their health and wellness journey.”

In addition to the pharmacies in Macon and Marietta, Trulieve plans to open three more in the state this year in Columbus, Newnan and Pooler.

“I’m proud to open two pharmacies in Macon and Marietta so patients can start getting the medication they need,” said Lisa Pinkney, president of Trulieve Georgia, in Friday’s announcement. “I would also like to congratulate the Commission along with the entire Trulieve Georgia team on reaching this milestone after all the hard work so far and thank both teams for the timely approval of the pharmacy application and completion of the pharmacy inspections.”

In March, the Georgia legislature introduced a bill that would increase the number of available licenses for medical cannabis from six to 15.

According to Axios, “medical cannabis customers in the state register and show their state-issued registration card with photo ID at the front desk” at the pharmacy, and then “enter a showroom that looks like a cross between a jewelry store and a Gen Z-friendly wealth management firm.” .”

“Stores carry tinctures ($40-$60) and capsules ($40) in indica, sativa, and hybrid strains, as well as topical ointments ($30),” Axios reported. “Medical cannabis in Georgia is limited to 5% THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana that gives users a high.”