Georgia's medical cannabisprogram is moving toward home deliveryafter state regulators adopted a new rule governing the delivery of medical cannabis products.
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission held a special called meeting on Sept. 30 to consider and adopt proposed rules, including Rule 351-6-.11, Delivery.
The commission's website lists the rule and the meeting summary among the documents from the meeting.
The change could eventually give registered medical cannabis patients another way to receive products without visiting a dispensary, although the commission's public meeting page does not provide a specific date for when deliveries will begin.
Here's what else to know.
What Georgia's new delivery rule does
The new rule is specifically identified as Rule 351-6-.11 Delivery
by the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission.
The rule was part of a group of proposed regulations posted by the commission in August. A public hearing on the proposed rules was held Sept. 16, followed by the special called Sept. 30 meeting to adopt the rules.
The commission's website says meeting summaries or recordings are posted after public meetings, while official meeting minutes are posted after they have been approved by the commission.
Who can access Georgia's medical cannabis program?
The Georgia Department of Public Health administers the state's Medical Cannabis Patient Registry.
According to DPH, a fully licensed physician with a principal practice location in Georgia must certify a patient with a qualifying condition.
Once a physician certifies the patient and submits the required information to the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry, DPH reviews the information before the patient can receive instructions to obtain a Medical Cannabis card.
The state currently calls the credential a Medical Cannabis card.
Georgia medical cannabis cards are valid for five years
The five-year card claim in the original information is supported by the Georgia DPH.
DPH says a Georgia Medical Cannabis card is valid for five years, with the expiration date printed on the front of the card. Patients must consult with their physician to renew the card after it expires.
DPH also says the card costs $30, with an additional $3.75 service fee when using its online payment portal.
Home delivery is not the same as recreational marijuana delivery
The rule concerns Georgia's medical cannabis program. It does not establish recreational marijuana delivery.
Georgia's Department of Public Health says physician certification is the way patients legally access medical cannabis through the state's program.
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission's licensing information also distinguishes the state's medical cannabis dispensaries and production licensees.
What happens next?
The commission has adopted the delivery rule, but its public meeting page does not currently give a specific date for when patients will be able to place home-delivery orders.
For now, Georgians interested in the medical cannabis program can use the Georgia Department of Public Health's patient information to learn about qualifying conditions, physician certification and the Medical Cannabis card process.
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission's websitealso provides information about the state's licensed medical cannabis businesses and dispensary locations.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia, covering food and entertainment. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Could medical marijuana soon be delivered to your Georgia home?
