House Bill 1 was passed yesterday by the Georgia House of Representatives and now awaits the signature of Gov. Nathan Deal. Here is one news report on the issue.
41 WMGT Macon: The proposal decriminalizes cannabis oil with a maximum 5% THC level, the psychoactive part of the plant. It allows children and adults who suffer from qualified medical conditions to use it as treatment. The eight conditions are seizure disorders, sickle cell anemia, cancer, Chron’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, mitochondrial disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. A previous House version included fibromyalgia, but that condition was cut by the Senate.
Supporters believe the oil will give their loved ones a better quality of life. Peake is happy families will get to come home, but adds there is more work to do.
“Until we have an in-state cultivation model in Georgia, those obstacles are going to be there, so that’s why it’s so important that while this is a good step, we need to eventually get to the end game of a safe, effective product inside our borders.”
A commission will be set up in July to make a recommendation to the governor and the General Assembly as to what is the best model for instate cultivation and delivery system for cannabis oil.
A big obstacle is getting the oil to Georgia. Cannabis oil with 0.3% THC is considered hemp. Peake says there are manufacturers who are willing to ship the oil to the state. It will be up to patients who need a higher percentage of THC to get the oil themselves and risk breaking federal law by crossing state lines with it.