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Legislation that would legalize the possession of medical marijuana in Georgia won unanimous approval from a key committee Monday, clearing the way for a possible vote on the House floor this week.
Sponsored by Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon, House Bill 1 says people may legally possess up to 20 ounces of cannabis oil and that no more than 5 percent of it — by weight — may consist of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the mind-altering part of the drug.
The legislation applies to people who have been diagnosed with cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, mitochondrial disease, fibromyalgia and Parkinson’s disease. About 500,000 people could be affected, Peake said.
To get medical marijuana, they would have to get a recommendation from their doctors and a registration card from the state Public Health Department.
Passage cited as ‘compassionate reach’
Peake said the bill could win approval on the House floor as soon as this week now that it has cleared the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee.
“This is verification that we have a compassionate reach,” Peake said. “And I think that is an important message to send our citizens: that we as a legislature are willing to find solutions for those citizens who are hurting.”
HB 1 would also require doctors to file quarterly reports about their recommended dosages and their patients’ responses to the treatments and any side effects. A new 16-member board — called the Georgia Commission on Medical Cannabis — would be created to come up with recommendations on how to regulate medical marijuana in Georgia.
People convicted of violating the law could face stiff penalties. For example, those caught possessing 154,000 or more ounces of cannabis oil could be convicted of a felony and face between 10 and 20 years in prison and a fine up to $1 million.
Lack of production element lamented
Some observers objected to how the bill does not legalize the production of cannabis oil in Georgia. Vince Sievert of LaGrange said his 20-year-old daughter, Miranda, traveled to Denver so she could get it for her epilepsy. The oil, he said, has significantly reduced her seizures.
Sievert said he was happy the legislation won the committee’s endorsement Monday.
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t help my daughter because it is not legal to ship,” he said. “My question is why are we willing to give immunity to a drug that we are not willing to produce here ourselves?”
Katie Crosby of Macon said she also traveled to Colorado to get cannabis oil for her fibromyalgia. She said it broke her fever and lessened her pain.
“My mom is going to have to risk breaking federal law to go get it on a plane, and that is scary,” said Crosby, the founder of a Facebook group called Hope for Silent Sufferers, an advocacy group. “I am totally for in-state cultivation. … Let’s really put compassion over fear.”
Peake called the issue a “logistical obstacle.”
“We do have a manufacturer who said they are willing to ship the product if HB 1 is passed,” he said. “That is a huge solution. We do have neighboring states — Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky — that are in the process of having access to cannabis oil. Our citizens could drive to those states, pick it up and bring it back. So I think there are some solutions to deal with those obstacles.”
Limits set on illnesses covered
State Rep. Dar'shun Kendrick, D-Lithonia, voted for the bill in the committee Monday, though she regrets it does not include sickle cell anemia as one of the covered diagnoses. Her late paternal grandfather suffered from the blood disorder.
“I was just particularly saddened that one did not get into the bill because it is so personal to me,” she said. But she added: “A bite of the apple is better than no apple at all, I guess.”
Peake said he supported limiting the number of medical conditions covered by HB 1 so the legislation could win approval from the House, Senate and Gov. Nathan Deal.
“I would have loved to have gotten as many diagnoses in there as possible,” he said. “I think a limited list that was consistent with what is done in other states that have medical marijuana laws I think was the right direction to go.”
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