New GA medical marijuana law takes effect soon. Here's when, what to know

Gov. Brian Kemp signed the Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act, significantly loosening restrictions on the state’s medical cannabis program. The law, which will take effect July 1, expands who qualifies, what products are allowed and how much THC patients can possess.

FULL STORY: GA expands, updates medical marijuana laws. Here’s what’s new

Here are key takeaways:

• More patients qualify under the expanded law. Lupus has been added to the list of eligible conditions, and the law removes “severe” or “end stage” requirements while widening access for autism, stage 3 HIV, severe Alzheimer’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease.
• Patients 21 and older may now vaporize medical cannabis at home, including cannabis flower. Smoking remains prohibited, and public use of any heating element or electronic device is not permitted.
• The new possession cap is 12,000 milligrams of THC cumulatively, replacing the former 5% potency cap. “Low THC oil” has been renamed “medical cannabis” in the legal code and is now excluded from the state’s Controlled Substances Act.
• To register, patients must see a Georgia-licensed physician to confirm a qualifying condition, then have the doctor submit a certification to the Georgia Department of Public Health. The $30 card is valid for two years.
• Cannabis Business Times calls the bill the biggest and most impactful update to Georgia’s medical cannabis law in more than a decade. Critics say the expansion may go too far on potency and product access, though proponents say the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.