A proposed medical marijuana compromise expected to be unveiled later Thursday in the state Senate would substantially broaden the conservative chamber’s efforts to legalize a limited form of the drug in Georgia.
The new effort is expected to include many of the nine disorders sought by the House in that chamber’s own medical marijuana proposal, including cancer and sickle cell disease. It would, however, set strict conditions for how those who suffer from the approved disorders may access limited amounts of cannabis oil to treat their conditions.
Senate Health and Human Services Chairwoman Renee Unterman, R-Buford, said her rewrite of House Bill 1 — which her committee will consider at a 1 p.m. meeting — would also include adults as being eligible for treatment. And it would eliminate fibromyalgia as an accepted disorder.
Unterman will officially unveil the new version of HB 1 at the meeting.
It comes after the Senate last week approved its original proposal, Senate Bill 185, which would have restricted use of a non-intoxicating cannabidiol for state-sponsored clinical trials only involving children who suffer frequent epileptic seizures.
It is one of two medical marijuana bills being considered this year in the state Legislature. It differs dramatically from its counterpart, HB 1, which is much broader and would make it legal for someone with a doctor’s recommendation to possess limited amounts of cannabis oil to treat more than half a dozen disorders, including Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
Both bills also differ on how much THC — the high-inducing chemical associated with marijuana use — could be in cannabis oil or cannabidiol legalized by the state. The House version would decriminalize the possession of up to 20 ounces of cannabis oil that contains no more than 5 percent THC. The Senate version would allow THC levels of only 0.3 percent or less.
Unterman said her new version of HB 1 would keep the proposed 5 percent THC level, although a number of committee members have expressed concern that the level is too high. It’s likely those members may try to change that proposal during the meeting, as they try to work out acceptable amendments to the bill.
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