Georgia lawmaker files bill to legalize medical marijuana

Georgia lawmakers are moving ahead with efforts to legalize a form of medical marijuana.

Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon, filed House Bill 1 on Monday, the first day legislators may “pre-file” legislation ahead of next year’s session of the General Assembly.

The bill follows through on a more than year-long pledge by Peake to pass legislation that would allow Georgia families to use cannabis oil to treat certain seizure disorders in both children and adults, afflictions that can cause hundreds of seizures a day and often lead to death. The oil is harvested from the marijuana plant but does not create the high that recreational use of marijuana produces.

Peake has dubbed HB 1 as “The Haleigh’s Hope Act,” named after a Georgia child whose parents have been among those advocating for legalization of the oil. A similar Peake bill failed in the final days of this year’s session, a casualty of House vs. Senate drama over dueling bills.

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