Georgia Governor Signs Bill Expanding Medical Cannabis Program, Easing Access for Patients
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has signed Senate Bill 220, known as the 'Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act,' which significantly expands the state's medical cannabis program. This new legislation replaces the term 'low-THC oil' with 'medical cannabis' and increases the allowable THC content from 5% to up to 12,000 milligrams per labeled container. The bill also broadens the list of qualifying conditions to include lupus and exempts patients with incurable or irreversible conditions from annual certification requirements. Additionally, the law permits patients over 21 to use vaporized medical cannabis, although smoking remains prohibited. The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission is granted expanded authority over licensing, tracking, inspections, enforcement, and public education. This expansion is part of a broader trend in Georgia, which has gradually increased access to medical cannabis since its initial legalization in 2015. 
