Marijuana Grow-Legislation for 2016
Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, July 17, 2015 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler
It was significant when a member of the marijuana study committee commented last fall that growing marijuana in Georgia is the core of their plan. Unfortunately, she was right! The law that passed this year allowing marijuana card holders to possess marijuana and undergo treatment was only the first step. Step two is well under way.
The new Georgia Commission on Medical Cannabis met June 16th to start work on legislation to authorize the cultivation of marijuana in Georgia. That meeting date coincided with the Health Department’s launch of a Low THC Oil Registry for patients who will qualify for cards authorizing marijuana treatment.
So far, eight medical conditions have been approved for the new treatment, but patients must be (a) under current care of a doctor, (b) who will recommend them for the program (some doctors will not), (c) must qualify for the registry, and (d) will pay $25 for a two-year card authorizing them to possess 20 ounces of cannabis oil.
After announcing and describing the registry, Public Health Department Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald explained that every county in Georgia has a registrar and 18 public health clinics across the state will issue the cards, which should be available 15 days after registration. Clinics were chosen in 18 specific locations, so travel time would be no more than two hours from anywhere in the state.Most of the meeting was dedicated to the lobbyist and government affairs director of Americans for Safe Access to marijuana. He was described as “the foremost expert in the country on medical marijuana laws on both state and local levels.” So, what does he do? He works with patients, advocates, and elected officials to create new laws and improve marijuana laws already on the books.
He cited success in 39 states, plus D.C. and Guam that now have marijuana laws. But of all the laws, he likes Georgia’s best; it has the highest THC level, and the system is being set up quicker here. Now, he’s guiding the Commission toward legislation that will authorize cultivation of the plant, as well as processing, manufacturing and distribution of the oil and its by-products – marijuana-laced food and beverages – such as that available for retail sale in Colorado. In 2014 150,000 pounds of marijuana flowers (the part used for smoking) and 4.8 million edible marijuana products were sold in Colorado.
Responding to Representative Peake’s question about the possibility of acquiring model legislation, Mr. Liszewski suggested various state laws that could be rewritten and introduced in Georgia’s 2016 session. Without setting a date, the Commission agreed to meet again in August. For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.