It was a good week for state Rep. Allen Peake, the House sponsor of Georgia’s medical marijuana bill. On Wednesday, the chamber voted 158-2 to decriminalize the possession of cannabis oil with no more than 5 percent of the chemical that produces the highs associated with pot. Today, Peake writes about the upcoming challenge for the bill in the Senate, where lawmakers may limit the scope of its coverage. In our second column, a medical expert with the American Cancer Society calls for a hike in the state cigarette tax to increase revenue and reduce addiction and disease.

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A person exits the Wolf Creek Library in Atlanta after casting his ballot during election day on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez/AJC