Medical marijuana bill on way to governor
Legislation that would legalize the use of medical marijuana in Georgia to treat a limited number of disorders is on its way to Gov. Nathan Deal’s desk.
Deal has indicated he will sign House Bill 1 into law. The vote in the House to agree to changes to the bill made in the Senate was 160-1, with only Rep. Stephen Allison, R-Blairsville, voting against the motion. Allison later declined to explain his vote.
The bill would provide immunity for the possession of a certain type of marijuana-based oil with a doctor’s recommendation to treat eight of the nine disorders originally sought by the House: cancer, Crohn’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), mitochondrial disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, seizure disorders and sickle cell disease
If Deal signs HB 1 into law, Georgia would become the 24th state to allow at least some patients legal access to medical cannabis.
— Aaron Gould Sheinin
Negotiators named for transportation bill
Final talks on how to raise $1 billion for transportation improvements statewide are beginning in earnest at the Georgia Legislature, after the House and Senate each picked three members Wednesday to craft a compromise by next week’s end-of-session deadline.
The House’s picks: Transportation Committee Chairman Jay Roberts, R-Ocilla; state Rep. Mark Hamilton, R-Cumming; and state Rep. Calvin Smyre, D-Columbus. The Senate’s picks: Transportation Committee Chairman Tommie Williams, R-Lyons; President Pro Tem David Shafer, R-Duluth; and state Sen. Steve Gooch, R-Dahlonega.
Each chamber has passed markedly different versions of House Bill 170 to help the state’s ailing transportation network. The House proposed an excise gas tax of 29.2 cents per gallon. The Senate said that tax should be 24 cents per gallon — but it also wants to charge rental car customers a $5 fee for each rental.
Other proposals include ending the state’s $5,000 state tax credit for the purchase or lease of an electric car; as well as ending an aviation fuel tax credit worth about $25 million annually to air carriers, including hometown giant Delta Air Lines.
— Kristina Torres
Tesla bill gains final approval
Tesla Motors could continue to avoid using independent dealers and sell an unlimited number of its new electric vehicles directly to Georgia consumers under a bill given final passage Wednesday by the Senate.
House Bill 393 is now headed to Gov. Nathan Deal. If he signs it, California-based Tesla would be the first and only carmaker in recent Georgia history to be allowed to sell freely without going through independent dealers.
The 48-4 vote came after supporters defeated efforts to effectively gut the bill either by only allowing direct sales for three years before permission would be revoked; or by expanding it so that other carmakers might also sell directly to consumers.
The bill as passed still limits Tesla to only five locations statewide. The company has already opened three locations in metro Atlanta.
— Kristina Torres
Panel backs craft beer legislation
The House Regulated Industries Committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 63 on Tuesday. The bill would allow breweries to charge customers for tours and then give them — as a free souvenir — up to 72 ounces of beer to take home in one or more containers. That is equal to a six-pack of beer. Visitors would also be able to drink up to 36 ounces of free samples at the breweries.
Additionally, the bill would allow distilleries to charge for tours and allow visitors to take home a container of up to three-quarters of a liter. Distilleries would be permitted to serve up to three half-ounce samples to visitors on site.
SB 63, however, does not allow brew pubs to offer take-home beer. But the bill’s sponsor — Sen. Hunter Hill, R-Atlanta — said other lawmakers have been discussing amending the bill on the House floor to allow that in some form.
— Jeremy Redmon
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