Gov. Nathan Deal signed legislation Thursday that effectively legalizes medical marijuana in Georgia, though tremendous hurdles remain for patients who want to get the drug.
House Bill 1, which took effect yesterday, makes it legal for people who suffer from cancer, sickle cell disease and other illnesses to possess up to 20 ounces of cannabis oil if a physician signs off. Georgia estimates hundreds of thousands of residents could be eligible for the drug, and at least 17 Georgia families have had to temporarily move to places like Colorado where the cannabis oil is legal.
The biggest challenge will be how to obtain the cannabis oil. It’s illegal to cultivate marijuana in Georgia, which means families have to trek to Colorado and other states that have legalized the drug for medical purposes. Most Medical Marijuana advocates assert that Georgia should next legalize and regulate the in-state cultivation of cannabis oil. This comes just in time for the annual celebration of April 20 or 420 day.
