Politics
Georgia’s cannabis registry off to fast start
J-Bo Wages of Dallas, Ga., kisses his 12-year-old daughter, Sydney, who suffers from intractable seizures and uses cannabis oil as a treatment, during her favorite activity riding on the family four-wheeler. The Wages family was among the very first to receive permission from the state to use low-dose cannabis oil without fear of prosecution. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com
As of last week, more than 130 patients have qualified for Georgia's new medical marijuana registry after its first 50 days of business.
For details on how patients, doctors and regulators are adapting to the new, read the complete story on MyAJC.com.
Here are the key points in Georgia's medical marijuana law:
Who may apply to the state’s new registry?
- An adult who has one or more of the eight diseases or disorders specified in the new law, and who has been a resident of Georgia for at least one year;
- Legal guardians of an adult who has one of the eight diseases or disorders specified in the new law, and who has been a resident of Georgia for at least one year;
- Parents or legal guardians of a minor child who has one or more of the eight diseases or disorders specified in the new law, and has been a resident for at least one year or was born in Georgia and is under one year of age.
How may someone apply for the registry?
- Any application must be sent in by the physician who is treating the patient, using the state's online registry forms. The physician must also register with the state as being approved to recommend the treatment as allowed by law.
What diseases or disorders are covered by the law?
- Cancer, when the disease has reached end stage or the treatment produces related wasting illness, recalcitrant nausea and vomiting;
- Seizure disorders related to diagnosis of epilepsy or trauma-related head injuries;
- Severe or end-stage amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease);
- Severe or end-stage multiple sclerosis,
- Severe or end-stage Parkinson's disease;
- Severe or end-stage sickle cell disease;
- Crohn's disease;
- Mitochondrial disease.
How long can a patient stay legal on the registry?
- Two years. To renew registration, patients must again consult with their doctor and receive state approval to continue.
Where can patients buy cannabis oil made legal by the law?
- Georgia law does not address the oil's manufacture or how to buy or obtain it. In fact, the sale of any form of marijuana is and remains a violation of state and federal law. Essentially, state lawmakers this year only created a way for some people to be protected from prosecution for having a limited form of the oil in their possession. The Georgia Commission on Medical Cannabis — also new this year — is now studying whether to recommend the law go further but has not yet reached a conclusion.
Source: Georgia Department of Public Health
