History 

Georgia passed Haleigh’s Hope Act into law on April 16, 2015, and allows for a limited amount of medical marijuana use for low-THC cannabidiol (CBD) for qualifying patients in Georgia. 

Production and dispensing of CBD is currently not allowed. 

State Rep. Allen Peake, introduced a bill in 2016 that would have allowed for the growing and selling of medical marijuana in the state of Georgia, though it was not successful.

In 2017, Senate Bill 16 expanded the use list. SB 16 does not address how patients should obtain medical marijuana or provide any state system to dispense it.

In January 2018, Senate Bill 614 entered the State Senate seeking to decriminalize marijuana for medical and recreational use within state lines. The Joint Study Commission of Access to Low-THC Medical Oil held public meetings during August – October 2018 to improve access to cannabis oil that is currently legal for certain qualifying patients.

The commission submitted a final report and recommendations for establishing a state-regulating dispensing system to improve patient access to the low THC medical cannabis oil. The report proposes to allow 10 grow licenses, 10 manufacturing licenses and an “adequate number” of dispensing licenses.

House Bill 324 was signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp on April 17, 2019 to provide patients who were already allowed to possess low THC high CBD marijuana oil legal access. The new law provides a framework for a state-regulated dispensing system of licensed marijuana producers.

Government officials appointed members to the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission on November 12, 2019. The formation of the commission will now allow for the drafting of regulations to license, establish and regulate medical marijuana businesses. regulated by the Department of Public Health.

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Key Dates

Government officials appointed members to the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission on November 12, 2019. The formation of the commission will now allow for the drafting of regulations to license, establish and regulate medical marijuana businesses. regulated by the Department of Public Health.

The state is expected to issue a “Request for Applications” (RFA) for medical marijuana cultivation licenses before the end of 2019. In this first round, up to 6 cultivation licenses will be awarded to private companies seeking to grow medical marijuana in Georgia. We Ot is anticipated that the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission may begin applications for medical marijuana dispensaries in 2020.

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Limited Medical Marijuana (low-THC oil) Program Guidelines

• Must register with the Georgia Department of Public Health and must have a registration card 

• If the patient is under 18 years of age then the parent or guardian must possess a card designating them as the patient’s caregiver.

• The medical marijuana oil must contain no more than 5% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), and it must contain an amount of CBD (cannabidiol) that is at least equal to the amount of THC.

• The low THC oil must be in a pharmaceutical container, and the label must clearly state the percentage of THC contained therein.

• The patient may possess no more than 20 fluid ounces of low THC oil.

The production and sale of hemp and hemp products is legal under the Georgia Hemp Farming Act. However, only growers licensed by the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) are permitted to grow and process hemp in the state of Georgia.