Georgia Governor Expands Medical Cannabis Program, Easing Access to Vapes and THC
In a move to expand the state’s medical cannabis program, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has signed Senate Bill 220, also known as the “Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act.” The new law removes the THC potency cap, allowing up to 12,000 milligrams of THC per labeled container, and expands qualifying conditions to include lupus. Additionally, patients over 21 can now use vaporized medical cannabis, while smoking remains prohibited.
The bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Matt Brass, modifies the definition of cannabis, replacing “low-THC oil” with “medical cannabis.” It also grants the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission broader authority over licensing, tracking, inspections, enforcement, and public education.
Georgia’s medical cannabis program has been steadily expanding since its legalization in 2015. The state initially limited it to low-THC oil containing up to 5% THC for a narrow list of qualifying conditions. However, subsequent bills have expanded the program, adding more qualifying conditions and allowing the sale of various cannabis products, including tinctures, transdermal patches, lotions, and capsules.
Today, more than 15 licensed dispensaries across the state serve over 33,000 patients enrolled in the program. Governor Kemp, while expressing reservations about the bill, acknowledged its benefits for patients and the need for a well-implemented medical cannabis program.
The expansion of Georgia’s medical cannabis program comes as at least 40 states in the US have laws allowing medical cannabis use, and amid a historical shift in medical cannabis policy. The US Department of Justice has officially rescheduled state-licensed medical cannabis and FDA-approved cannabis products from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.
