Some people swore it would never happen, but the state legislature in Georgia has passed a bill to legalize medical marijuana.
The bill cause of heated debate within the legislature with opponents ignoring the proven beneficial effects of marijuana for many health conditions. In 2014, the state passed a limited bill that allowed the use of cannabis oil to treat people who suffer from conditions such as epilepsy. Although use of cannabis oil was legal for these patients in Georgia, the state did not allow the oil to be produced in Georgia. Parents had to travel to other states, such as Colorado where the product is legal and transport it back to Georgia. But this was a violation of state law to transport marijuana oil across the Georgia state line. Many parents reportedly moved from the state to Colorado to ease the suffering of their children. Before marijuana oil was legal the children were often given anti-seizure drugs that would send them to the local emergency rooms.
A specific strain of marijuana and its derivatives were low in THC and high in CBD’s. CBD is the portion of the drug that does not produce a high but relives and in some cases stops seizures. The new law that was passed in the last hours of the legislative session relaxes the restriction on marijuana oil and also broadens the conditions that can be treated by the oil. Patients who suffer from PTSD, autism, AIDS and other conditions now have a chance for medical relief.
The new bill must be passed by the state senate and be signed into law by Gov. Nathan Deal, who has expressed support for the broadened conditions. However, the recreational use of marijuana is still prohibited in Georgia.
Georgia now joins other states across the country who recognize the benefits of marijuana.
