A bill to decriminalize possession and transport of oil made from marijuana is waiting to be signed by Governor Nathan Deal this week. Deal expects to do that just after the legislative session ends. Moves are already afoot to pave the way including a new registry at the Georgia Department of Public Health for those who will use the drug.
The bill, which appeared dead early on in this legislative session, was revived and heavily lobbied for by patients and their families from across Georgia.
As Now Habersham reported in January, Clarkesville Elementary School student Ava Fowler is one of the children the new law is supposed to help. She suffers seizures due to brain dysplasia. A form of cannabis oil shows promise in reducing or even eliminating seizures.
As Ava’s mom Sarabeth told us at the time, making new laws means navigating a maze of complicated political obstacles. “The politics can be very frustrating but there is a part of me that appreciates it. There are so many of us who have strong opinions one way or another, so, thank goodness there are people out there who can study it and listen to many different sides.”
There are a few more obstacles for the Fowlers and others who need the marijuana derivative for health reasons. They’ll first need to get a recommendation from their doctor that they suffer from one of 8 conditions listed under the law.
New Georgia law allows cannabis oil use to treat the following conditions
- Cancer
- ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- Seizure disorders
- Multiple sclerosis
- Crohn’s disease
- Mitochondrial disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Sickle Cell disease
Once they secure the doctor’s recommendation, they must register with the Department of Public Health under a process the agency is starting to put in place right now. Once registered, they’ll get a card from the state allowing them to possess and transport the cannabis oil in Georgia. State Representative Allen Peake (R-Macon) says getting that up and running shouldn’t take long, “I’m working with them to fast-track that. I’m hoping it will happen within 30-45 days.”
Getting the product will still be difficult for patients at first. They’ll either need to travel to states where marijuana is legal or find suppliers in those states willing to ship the oil to Georgia. This is complicated by federal law which still views marijuana as illegal despite state laws to the contrary. To this point, Peake says the THC (the chemical in pot that makes you high) allowed in the oil is limited to 5%. He believes it is low enough to be considered hemp which means it could be shipped under current federal law.
Ultimately, Georgia will need to develop an in-state solution to producing and distributing the oil. That won’t happen right away. The University System of Georgia will first create a research program to study the oil’s health benefits and a commission will study the best way to implement what Peake calls “a delivery system for cannabis oil here in Georgia.” The commission’s recommendations are due in December.
The 2015 legislative session enters its final two days on Tuesday. Governor Deal has committed to signing the cannabis oil law the day after lawmakers wrap up their work.
