Georgia House Approves Medical Marijuana Improvement Bill

/in , , , , /by

Both the Georgia House and Senate this year presented bills that would make changes to the state’s low-THC medical marijuana law. The better of the two, House Bill 65, just passed the House by a huge margin of 156-6 in support. The bill is now on its way to the Senate.

House Bill 65 would increase the list of qualifying medical conditions, adding HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, autoimmune disease, peripheral neuropathy, and others, and it would offer basic protections for those patients visiting from out-of-state. Unfortunately…

Click Here to Continue Reading…

Georgia Representative Working to Fix Medical Marijuana Program

/in , , , /by
The opinions expressed by our viewers and posters do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Marijuana Policy Project. These views are those of their individual authors alone. MPP does not condone or support the illegal use of marijuana. We do encourage open and frank discussion, but if a comment has been posted that is in some way significantly inappropriate, please email us at [email protected] to report it. Thank you, and we’re looking forward to what you think!

Click Here to Continue Reading…

Georgia Rep. Breaks Law to Bring Medical Cannabis to Patients

/in , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

Rep. Allen Peake, a Republican, has introduced new legislation (HB 722) this year in hopes of bringing in-state production and distribution of the oils, so he and others won’t have to break laws to obtain them.

Georgia Representative Allen Peake, who authored Georgia’s current medical cannabis law, the Haleigh’s Hope Act (HB1), has publicly admitted to breaking the law to bring medical marijuana to patients in Georgia.

The Georgia law, which allows for low-THC extracts containing primarily cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinolic…

CONTINUE READING: Click Here to Continue Reading Article …

Georgia House Speaker Supports Expanding Medical Marijuana Law

/in , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

ATLANTA, GA — A proposal to expand Georgia’s extremely limited medical marijuana program — including allowing cannabis to finally be grown in the state — won a key endorsement this week from House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge).

The proposed bill, House Bill 722, was filed earlier this week by three fellow Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Allen Peake (R-Macon), primary sponsor of 2015’s Haleigh’s Hope Act.  House Bill 722 expands upon the Haleigh’s Hope Act by allowing the regulated cultivation, processing,…

CONTINUE READING: Click Here to Continue Reading Article…

Comprehensive Med. Marijuana Bill to Be Introduced in Georgia

/in , , , /by
Rep. Allen Peake

Rep. Allen Peake, who championed Haleigh’s Hope Act in 2015, is prefiling HB 722, which would greatly improve on last year’s legislation. Most importantly, the bill would allow regulated cultivation, processing, testing, and dispensing of medical cannabis in Georgia — protecting families and seriously ill patients who otherwise have to risk breaking laws to get access.

Currently, the more than 400 patients in Georgia are required to travel out of state to obtain much-needed medicine. Traveling…

Click Here to Continue Reading…

Comprehensive Medical Marijuana Bill Filed in Georgia

/in , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

ATLANTA, GA — Three Republican lawmakers have prefiled a bill that would create a much more comprehensive medical marijuana program in Georgia than the restrictive Haleigh’s Hope Act that was passed last year.

Rep. Allen Peake (R-Macon), primary sponsor of 2015’s Haleigh’s Hope Act, prefiled House Bill 722 on Wednesday, legislation that is co-sponsored by Reps. Alan Powell (R-Hartwell) and Micah Gravley (R-Douglasville).

Most notably, the proposed legislation would allow the regulated cultivation, processing, testing and dispensing…

CONTINUE READING: Click Here to Continue Reading Article …

Georgia Bill Would Eliminate Felony Charges for Marijuana Possession

/in , , , , , , , , , , /by

ATLANTA, GA — A bill has been filed in Georgia that would eliminate the possibility of felony charges for marijuana possession offenses in the state.

If passed, Senate Bill 254, introduced by state Sen. Harold Jones II (D-Augusta), would amend the state’s criminal code so that no marijuana possession offense could be classified as a felony offense.

Nearly a dozen states already have similar laws on the books, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).

Currently, Georgia law classifies any…

CONTINUE READING: Click Here to Continue Reading Article …

Georgia Poll Finds Overwhelming Support for Expanding Medical Marijuana

/in , , , /by

A poll released Monday shows that the vast majority of likely Georgia voters support expanding the extremely limited medical marijuana law.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports:

The poll conducted on behalf of the newly formed Georgians for Freedom in Healthcare is part of that effort to show Georgians are comfortable with expanding the program — even if the governor isn’t.

The poll, conducted Nov. 29-30 by Atlanta-based Opinion Savvy, found 84.5 percent of likely 2016 Georgia primary voters somewhat to…

Click Here to Continue Reading…

Georgia Governor Says ‘No’ to Medical Cannabis Production

/in , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

Advocates: Gov. Deal should look at Medical Cannabis Facts

Last week Georgia Governor Nathan Deal fired a warning shot across the bow of the medical cannabis ship, a warning shot to law makers that he may veto any legislation allowing for in-state cultivation of cannabis for medical use.

This week the Georgia Commission on Medical Cannabis will host its final hearing to draft a proposal and recommendation to the governor and the general assembly. Over the past two years lawmakers have heard from stakeholders concerning the regulation of…

CONTINUE READING: Click Here to Continue Reading Article …

Why Georgia Won’t Become the 24th Medical Marijuana State

/in , , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

With the passage of House Bill 1 in Georgia this week, the state will become the 36th state with some form of medical marijuana protection for patients, but the law falls short of making the state the 24th “medical marijuana state,” in spite of stories to the contrary. The act was approved by both the Georgia House and Senate earlier this week and now moves to the desk of Gov. Nathan Deal where it is expected to be signed soon.

While definitions on what is and is not a medical marijuana state are clearly subjective, the newly passed…

CONTINUE READING: Click Here to Continue Reading Article…

Georgia Governor to Sign Limited Medical Marijuana Bill

/in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

ATLANTA, GA — A spokesperson for Georgia Governor Nathan Deal said the Republican will sign legislation that will allow access to low-THC cannabis oil for patients suffering from some conditions.

Gov. Deal will sign the bill after the legislative session ends next week, spokesman Brian Robinson said Thursday.  The Governor is also expected to issue an executive order directing state agencies to begin preparing to enact the legislation on Friday.

The restrictive bill, which advocates say does not quallify Georgia to be considered a…

CONTINUE READING: Click Here to Continue Reading Article…

Georgia Lawmakers Give Final Approval to Limited Medical Marijuana Bill

/in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

ATLANTA, GA — Lawmakers in Georgia’s House voted 160-1 on Wednesday to give final approval to a bill that will allow access to low-THC cannabis oil for patients suffering from some conditions.

Titled the Haleigh’s Hope Act, House Bill 1, was approved earlier this week by the Senate 48-6.  The House had previously approved the bill by a 158-2 vote in February, but changes in the Senate required a new floor vote in the House.

The bill now goes to the desk of Gov. Nathan Deal, who is expected to sign the bill into law as early as…

CONTINUE READING: Click Here to Continue Reading Article…

Georgia Senate Approves Limited Medical Marijuana Bill

/in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , /by

ATLANTA, GA —  The Georgia Senate has overwhelmingly passed a limited medical marijuana bill that would allow access to low-THC cannabis oil for patients suffering from some conditions.

Titled the Haleigh’s Hope Act, House Bill 1, which has already been approved by the House, was amended in the Senate and now returns to the lower chamber for some tweaking.

The original bill’s author, Rep. Allen Peake (R-Macon) said that he feels confident that the House will approve the substitute bill from the Senate Health and Human Services…

CONTINUE READING: Click Here to Continue Reading Article…