The state of Georgia has taken one more step toward increasing access to cannabis and THC in the state.
On Tuesday, Gov. Brian Kemp signed the “Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act,” or S.B. 220, into law following the legislative session earlier this year, broadening the legality of the use of medical cannabis.
The bill swaps “low THC oil” to “medical cannabis,” refocusing use of the products on those with medical conditions rather than for recreation.
S.B. 220 removes the 5% THC potency cap on medical cannabis products in Georgia, allowing patients to now keep 12,000 milligrams of medical cannabis if it is labeled in a pharmaceutical container.
It also expands the kind of THC products that can be sold in Georgia dispensaries. Edibles, gummies, and vaporized flower will now be legal to sell under the new potency level.
Those who are being prescribed medical cannabis will also no longer have to go through annual certification if they are experiencing an “incurable” or “irreversible” condition. The registry of ailments that are included in the bill was also expanded to include lupus, autism, Stage III HIV, severe Alzheimer’s disease, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Any THC production facility must be 3,000 feet away from a school or church. An out-of-state medical cannabis registry card can get you a 45-day supply in Georgia, and a registration card will be valid for five years under the new legislation.
At some point, registration will also need to transition to electronic registration cards through the Department of Health, but the timeline for this change is not clearly stated in the bill.
Smoking or burning medical cannabis is still banned under the new law, but vaporization was authorized for people over the age of 21 using THC medically.
Even with the new changes, most marijuana use is still illegal in Georgia, both medically and recreationally.
The sale or possession of marijuana in leaf form and the production or sale of marijuana in food products are both still illegal, at any volume or amount. Penalties for possession can come with significant fees or even jail time.
Marijuana itself has also not been legalized for medical use. Only lower-potency THC, referred to as medical cannabis, is legalized for medical use.
Marijuana refers to the entire plant, Cannabis sativa, while THC is a compound that comes from the marijuana plant. There are more than 100 “cannabinoids” that come from the marijuana plant.
THC and CBD are the most well-known and most commonly used cannabinoids.
THC is an acronym for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and refers to the cannabinoid that creates the “high” sensation from marijuana. THC is most often sold in oil form, though it can also be sold in food or as herbs and flowers.
CBD is closely related to THC, but is not psychoactive and therefore does not give a user a “high” reaction. CBD is much easier to find and is less restricted in many states. CBD can come in the form of an oil, extract, patch, vape, or topical lotion and is used for various health benefits.
Irene Wright covers politics in Georgia as the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.