Two Georgia hospitals on Tuesday launched clinical trails of marijuana-based medication.
The trials at Children’s Hospital of Georgia and Georgia Regents University come after Gov. Nathan Deal announced support for a partnership with British drug manufacturer GW Pharmaceuticals to explore the use of cannabis oil to treat certain seizure disorders.
The trial at Children’s Hospital will include just two patients; 50 patients will be involved in the Georgia Regents program.
“No one with a heart could hear the stories of these children and their parents and not want to exhaust every possibility to provide them with the treatment they need to combat this debilitating condition,” said Gov. Nathan Deal.
The trials are just the first step in a larger effort by some to open the doors to legalized use of medical marijuana in Georgia. Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon, has reintroduced a plan to legalize the use of cannabis oil. Lawmakers will consider his bill when the Legislature reconvenes in January. A similar effort failed in the final days of this year’s session.
Others, including a private investment firm, want to see Georgia allow wider use of marijuana to treat a range of diseases and disorders.
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