Georgia Marijuana Laws and Medicinal Weed Use
This article will discuss the Georgia marijuana laws and if you’re eligible to obtain a medical marijuana card. We’ll also look at penalties and dispensaries in Georgia. You can even learn how to obtain a card and use medicinal cannabis. In the meantime, keep reading for more information on these issues.
Eventually, you’ll be able to purchase the cannabis you need without breaking the law. To learn more, keep reading below.
Georgia Marijuana Laws
Marijuana laws in Georgia vary by state, but a recent law has made it legal for qualified individuals to possess small amounts of low-THC oil derived from the marijuana plant. A Low THC Oil Registry Card issued by the Georgia Department of Public Health will prove that you are authorized to possess the oil. The card will protect you from arrest if you have the oil in your possession.
Despite the recent changes in Georgia marijuana laws, Georgia is still quite far behind the times when it comes to policy reform. Georgia is one of 13 states that do not allow adults to legally possess small amounts of cannabis, and one of 19 that impose a jail sentence for simple possession. While Georgia allows the use of cannabis-derived products with up to 5% THC, it has no compassionate medical marijuana law. However, the state has passed several marijuana reform bills, including SB 263, which would have legalized adult cannabis and HR 281, which would have referred a constitutional amendment to voters. Another bill, SB 77, would have reduced the fine for possessing less than half an ounce of marijuana.
Georgia Dispensary Information
The Georgia legislature did not pass medical marijuana reforms in 2015, but it did create a commission to assess the issue. The commission will evaluate everything from the security of manufacturing to product labeling and testing. Georgia marijuana laws and medicinal weed use could change under this new commission’s recommendations. Proponents hope that private companies will provide medical marijuana to patients, and they see that as the most secure way to procure the drug.
Although two-thirds of Georgians say cannabis possession should be legal, more than 40,000 Georgians are arrested every year for possession of small amounts. In addition, the ACLU report shows a stark racial disparity in marijuana enforcement. Black Georgians are three times more likely than whites to be arrested for possession of cannabis. Legalizing marijuana in Georgia could reduce the number of arrests and undo the damage done by unequal enforcement.
How to Get a Medicinal Marijuana Card in Georgia
If you’re wondering how to get a medical marijuana card in Georgia, you’ve come to the right place. The new state medical marijuana program, called “Low-THC Oil Registry,” makes it easier for patients to access cannabis oil with up to 5% THC. While the program is still fairly limited, it is a significant step in the right direction. Georgia has long allowed the medical use of marijuana, but HB1 introduced in 2015 legalized access to medical cannabis oil.
If you’ve been suffering from a medical condition, the best place to start is the website of the state’s Department of Health and Human Services. They will have a comprehensive list of qualifying conditions. You should remember that medical marijuana in Georgia is only legal for patients whose condition requires the drug. For example, only a person suffering from cancer or a serious heart condition may qualify for a medical marijuana card.
Georgia Marijuana Laws and Penalties
When you have been arrested for marijuana possession in Georgia, you may be wondering what the consequences are. Marijuana possession can come in two forms: actual possession and constructive possession. Actual possession requires that the defendant have possession of marijuana in their possession or a direct relationship to the marijuana. Constructive possession requires that the defendant have physical possession of marijuana, such as an open bag of it on their person.
The penalties for marijuana possession in Georgia vary, but in most cases, the minimum fine is $75 and up to a $1,000 fine. Penalties are more severe if you have more than one ounce of marijuana. In Atlanta, for example, a person can be convicted of possessing less than an ounce of marijuana and still be subject to the $75 fine. Marijuana possession charges can be extremely burdensome, particularly if a person is on a fixed income.
GA Marijuana Summary
Georgia’s legal framework for marijuana differs from that of other states. Although marijuana laws vary from state to state, Georgia’s recent passage of House Bill 1, or “Haleigh’s Hope Act,” has allowed for limited use of the plant. The law allows certain qualifying patients to possess low-THC cannabis oil for medicinal purposes. THC, which produces a “high,” is still prohibited for personal use.
Georgia’s medical marijuana laws are strict. Even though Georgia is legal for medical marijuana, possession of small amounts is a criminal offense. However, Atlanta decriminalized small amounts. Currently, Georgia has legalized medical marijuana use only for specified conditions, and the state’s current marijuana laws are one of the strictest in the country. Even those with registered low-THC oil are at risk of breaking federal drug laws, though changes are expected to be made soon.
