Georgia’s approach to cannabis legislation, particularly concerning medical marijuana, presents a more limited scope compared to other states. Unlike some states that have legalized the growing, sale, and possession of marijuana in plant or leaf form, Georgia’s law does not permit these activities. The law also excludes the production, sale, or ingestion of food products infused with low THC oil, as well as the inhalation of this oil through smoking, electronic vaping, or vapor.
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission – FAQs details that under the new law, effective July 1, 2023, adults 21 or older may possess and consume up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis flower, 12 grams of concentrated cannabis, or a total amount of cannabis products not exceeding 750 mg of THC. This is recognized as the “personal use amount.”
Significantly, the Federal Status of Marijuana continues to create a policy gap between federal and state laws. The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023 (P.L. 117-328) implies that the Department of Justice (DOJ) cannot legally act against states to prevent them from implementing or enforcing medical marijuana laws.
For insights into the commission’s workings, the GA Access to Medical Cannabis Commission – Commission Meetings highlights various meetings and agendas, such as the one held on September 20, 2023, in Atlanta, discussing proposed amendments and rule chapters.
The GA Access to Medical Cannabis Commission – Rules & Georgia Law provides an electronic version of the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, crucial for understanding the legal framework surrounding medical cannabis.
Additionally, Georgia’s decriminalization of the personal use of marijuana was established by the Constitutional Court of Georgia on November 30, 2017. This decision, reported by the Library of Congress, does not legalize the sale, distribution, or production of marijuana.
The Low THC Oil Registry of the Georgia Department of Public Health allows certain qualified persons to legally possess up to 20 fluid ounces of “low THC oil,” derived from the marijuana plant.
Lastly, the GA Access to Medical Cannabis Commission – History & Purpose offers a deeper understanding of the commission’s mission and objectives since its establishment under Georgia’s Hope Act on July 1, 2019.