Various states in the United States have been taking action to make medical marijuana legal in their region. One such state that falls in the Southeastern region of the USA is Georgia. The General Assembly here made legislative bills to establish a legal system for medical cannabis use.
However, it didn’t manage to legalize the sale of this plant even to pharmaceutical companies after facing a lot of challenges. It is still illegal to consume medical marijuana in Georgia. But you can use low-THC oils, which are different from recreational purpose oils. Well, you can still apply for a medical cannabis card in Georgia to purchase cannabis-derived items, including this oil.
In this guide, you’ll find every bit of information on legal implications and how to get a medical marijuana card in Georgia. So, let’s begin here!
History of Medical Cannabis Legislation in Georgia
The fight against medical cannabis use started in February 1980 when Senate and House votes were made to support the intake of medical marijuana. It was done for the patients with glaucoma and cancer who were taking chemotherapy. Subsequently, governors made a board for its discussion, but there was no action taken.
Medical legalization started again in 2015 when cannabis oil was allowed and made legal. The bill was passed and signed by one of the Georgia governors. Its oil was experimented on eight medical conditions, which was expanded to six more conditions.
After this, more problems like post-traumatic stress disorder and pain were added to the list in 2019. All these health problems made the sale of other cannabis products possible. It included transdermal patches, tinctures, lotions, patches, and capsules. But to get the same, you would need to go under the online medical marijuana consultation in Georgia.
Details of Medical Cannabis Legislation in Georgia
Now that you know the basic history of how medical cannabis in Georgia got approved, it is equally important to highlight some of the important timelines. This will help you to understand how the medical cannabis card in Georgia came into existence. So, here are the details that you should know about:
Initial Legislation:
Georgia introduced its first significant medical cannabis legislation with the “Haleigh’s Hope Act” (House Bill 1) in 2015. This law allowed patients suffering from specific medical conditions, such as cancer, seizure disorders, and multiple sclerosis, to possess up to 20 ounces of cannabis oil containing not more than 5% THC.
Expansion of the Law:
In subsequent years, the state expanded the list of qualifying conditions. In 2017, Senate Bill 16 added six more conditions, including AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, and peripheral neuropathy. These expansions provided legal protections for more patients to access medical cannabis oil.
Low-THC Oil Registry:
Looking at the benefits of medical marijuana in Georgia, a new step was taken. The Georgia Department of Public Health established the low-THC Oil Registry. Under this program, patients and caregivers can apply for a card that allows them to legally possess cannabis oil, provided it adheres to state law limitations.
Cultivation and Distribution:
One of the most significant steps came in 2019 with the passage of House Bill 324, which legalized the cultivation, processing, and dispensing of low-THC oil in Georgia. This law aimed to improve access for registered patients by allowing for the in-state production and sale of the oil, addressing the issue that patients previously had to travel out of state or procure it through other means.
Recent Developments:
In recent years, the state has continued to refine the regulations and infrastructure around the medical cannabis industry, including licensing growers and establishing a more structured dispensary system. However, it remains illegal to use or possess plant-based cannabis for any purpose, and the state does not allow smoking or vaping of cannabis, even in its oil form.
The evolution of medical cannabis legislation in Georgia shows a cautious yet evolving approach to managing access to cannabis for health-related purposes.
How To Obtain Medical Marijuana In Georgia?
A medical cannabis card in Georgia can be used to access and buy any of these items. It is given to medical dispensaries and people with physical health or various health conditions. If you have frequent body issues that can be relieved with cannabis, you can get this card.
From where to get a Georgia medical marijuana card? You can visit your healthcare professional and get a physical examination done for this card. The low-THC Oil Registry is the responsibility of all physicians who have a license to practice in the state. They can certify patients who are eligible to get legal THC oil in Georgia.
There’s more to the application process, eligibility, and conditions covered under the Georgia medical marijuana card. Let’s discuss these details in further sections.
Qualifying Conditions for Medical Marijuana in Georgia
This legal THC oil in Georgia is limited to a concentration of 5% only. Recently, it has been gaining acceptance because of the amazing results for various conditions that are considered to be severe or extreme. Here are the medical conditions that can make you eligible for it:
- Severe intractable pain.
- Advanced Alzheimer’s disease.
- Severe amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
- Advanced-stage AIDS.
- Crohn’s disease
- Post-traumatic stress disorder in patients aged 18 or older.
- End-stage cancer or related severe treatment effects.
- Seizure disorders from epilepsy or head injuries.
- Peripheral neuropathy in terminal stages.
- Epidermolysis bullosa.
- Mitochondrial disease.
- Hospital care patients, both inpatient and outpatient.
- Progressive Parkinson’s disease.
- Sickle cell disease.
- Tourette’s syndrome.
- Adults or children with autism spectrum disorder.
Eligibility Criteria For Medical Marijuana Card in Georgia
You might be thinking about whether people other than patients can apply for it or not. Well, if you are to apply for a medical marijuana card in Georgia, then you would need to be eligible as follows:
- Must be an adult (18 years+) with one or more conditions specified above.
- Parents or legal custodians of children having any mentioned condition can apply for it.
- Georgia residents
- A healthcare professional has strong recommendations for patients.
Note: Only doctors can decide which patient can fill out a Georgia cannabis card application from a low-THC Oil registry.
Comparison Of Laws In Georgia To Other States
After reading the good news about getting medical marijuana in Georgia, you might think of it as a state with lenient laws. However, it has very limited rules as compared to the other states of the USA, which have adopted medical marijuana.
Why are we saying this? Well, that’s because the government of Georgia has not allowed sales of cannabis leaves to locals in any form. Moreover, there’s no authorization for the production of food products that contain low-THC oil.
These rules were made to prevent physicians from prescribing drugs made of its leaves and to protect people from criminal prosecution.
Does the Law Authorize the Sale of low-THC Oil?
People who are in the business of selling medicines directly to customers can now begin the sale of low-THC Oil. Georgia has become the first state to announce this. Under the MMJ law of this state, the government has also permitted the production of marijuana oil with less than 5% THC.
According to the press release, Omega, Robins, and Tifton, along with 1000 other independent pharmacies, are allowed to sell their products. However, patients with mild-stage disorders cannot get the benefits of it.
Get your Health Better with Medical Cannabis in Georgia
If you are a Georgian, you can get low-THC oil easily if you pass the medical conditions and the doctor feels you need it. It has been made possible under Georgia’s medical marijuana law. However, the government allows the sale and purchase of only 20 ounces of low-THC Oil content of below 5%, and that too with a medical cannabis card in Georgia.
And, if you are looking for this card, then the fastest way to get a cannabis card in Georgia is with the help of MJCard; known for their amazing services and expert connect, they can not only help you with the necessary card but also cannabis card renewal in Georgia. So, book your consultation today!