summary
Introduced
02/14/2019
02/14/2019
In Committee
03/28/2019
03/28/2019
Crossed Over
03/05/2019
03/05/2019
Passed
04/12/2019
04/12/2019
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
04/17/2019
04/17/2019
Introduced Session
2019-2020 Regular Session
Bill Summary
To amend Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to offenses against public health and morals, so as to provide for the production, manufacturing, and dispensing of low THC oil in this state; to provide for an exception to possession of certain quantities of low THC oil; to provide for definitions; to require a license to produce, grow, manufacture, or dispense low THC oil in this state; to provide for the creation of the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission; to provide for its membership, powers, and duties; to provide for the issuance of designated university licenses and Class 1 and Class 2 production licenses; to authorize the University System of Georgia to obtain cannabis through the National Institute on Drug Abuse or from any available legal source; to provide for the dispensing of low THC oil by pharmacies; to provide for dispensing licenses; to provide for seed-to-sale tracking systems; to provide for retrospective study; to provide for enforcement by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; to provide for facility inspections and product sample testing; to prohibit certain convicted felons from working as employees for licensees; to provide for confidentiality of records; to provide for transfer of certain licenses; to provide for revocation of licenses; to prohibit ownership by certain physicians in low THC oil manufacturers or distributors; to provide for violations and penalties; to provide for immunity; to provide for reimbursement of legal expenses for state employees; to provide for contracts; to prohibit ingesting low THC oil through vaping; to prohibit regulation by the Department of Agriculture; to amend Chapter 11 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia, relating to seeds and plants generally, so as to provide for an exception; to amend Code Section 31-2A-18 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to establishment of the Low THC Oil Patient Registry, so as to require a physician to review information in the prescription drug monitoring program data base; to provide for research to determine the efficacy of low THC oil for treatment of conditions; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
AI Summary
This bill, titled the "Georgia's Hope Act", aims to establish a system for the production, manufacturing, and dispensing of low THC oil (a cannabis-derived product) in the state of Georgia. The key provisions include:
- Creating the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission to oversee the new medical cannabis program, including licensing producers, manufacturers, and dispensaries, and establishing quality control and security requirements.
- Allowing the University System of Georgia to obtain cannabis from legal sources for research purposes.
- Requiring pharmacies and retail outlets to obtain licenses to dispense low THC oil to registered patients.
- Establishing a seed-to-sale tracking system to monitor the production, distribution, and sale of low THC oil.
- Conducting retrospective studies on the participation of minority and women-owned businesses in the new licensing program, and authorizing the Commission to address any identified discrimination.
- Prohibiting certain individuals with felony convictions from working in the medical cannabis industry.
- Providing legal protections for registered patients, physicians, and others involved in the lawful use or production of low THC oil.
The bill seeks to create a carefully regulated system to allow access to low THC oil for medical purposes, while maintaining strong opposition to recreational or non-medical use of marijuana in Georgia.
Sponsors (7)
David Clark (R)*,
Micah Gravley (R)*,
Mark Newton (R)*,
Alan Powell (R)*,
Calvin Smyre (D)*,
Scot Turner (R)*,
Matt Brass (R),
Last Action
Effective Date (on 07/01/2019)
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