How to Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in Georgia

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How to Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in Georgia – A Step-by-Step Guide

• Consult a physician to confirm the diagnosis of a qualifying condition and that cannabis might help
• The physician will submit the relevant documents to the Georgia Department of Public Health
• The Department will review your documents and issue your card
• Collect your card from a preselected Local Georgia Public Health Office
• Visit a licensed dispensary and buy your low-THC oil

Georgia Medical Marijuana Card Qualifying Conditions

To apply for a medical marijuana card in GA, you must fall into one of the following three categories:

• Adults with one or more specified qualifying conditions (see below)
• Legal guardians of adults with one or more specified qualifying conditions
• Parents or legal guardians of minors with one or more specified qualifying conditions

Patient Qualifying Conditions

The list of GA medical marijuana card qualifying conditions is reasonably long compared to other states. It includes the following:

• Cancer (end-stage or if the treatment produces related wasting syndrome or recalcitrant nausea and vomiting
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (severe or end stage)
• Seizure disorders related to epilepsy or trauma-related head injury
• Multiple sclerosis (severe or end stage)
• Crohn’s disease
• Mitochondrial disease
• Parkinson’s disease (severe or end stage)
• Sickle cell disease (severe or end stage)
• Tourette’s syndrome (severe)
• Autism spectrum disorder, when either the patient is over 18 or the patient is under 18 and diagnosed with severe autism
• Epidermolysis bullosa
• Alzheimer’s disease (severe or end stage)
• AIDS (severe or end stage)
• Peripheral neuropathy (severe or end stage)
• The patient is either an inpatient or outpatient in a hospice program
• Intractable pain
• Post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from direct exposure to trauma or witnessing a trauma for patients over 18

General Guidelines

Medical Marijuana Card Renewal in Georgia

Low THC oil cards are valid for two years. When renewing, patients must have another consultation with their physician to determine whether they are still eligible. If the physician agrees, they will update the patient’s information in the registry.

The process is similar to the initial registration, and patients can usually collect their new card from a Local Georgia Public Health office after 15 business days.

Caregiver Rules

Minors require a parent or legal guardian to act as a caregiver to get MMJ in Georgia. Some adults may also require a caregiver to help them purchase, transport, and use their low-THC oil.

Caregivers must apply to the registry in a similar manner to patients. In the case of minors, if two parents or legal guardians will act as caregivers, both must apply for a separate card.

A Brief History of Cannabis in Georgia

Georgia’s first attempt at something resembling a medical marijuana program was a law known as HB1 or the Haleigh’s Hope Act. It was signed in 2015 by Governor Nathan Deal and allowed patients to access cannabis oil with up to 5% THC. Unfortunately, there were only eight qualifying conditions, meaning few qualified for the program. There were also no provisions for cultivating, manufacturing and distributing low-THC oil.

In 2017, six further qualifying conditions were added under Senate Bill 16. Then, in 2018, PTSD and intractable pain were added under a law known as HB65. Finally, in 2019, provisions were made for cultivating and distributing low-THC oil in Georgia. This law was known as HB324 or the Hope Act. The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission started accepting license applications in 2020, and patients should have access to low-THC oil by 2023.

Georgia Medical Marijuana Laws and Rules

Georgia is one of just a few states that has not either legalized or decriminalized small amounts of cannabis for personal use. Possessing any amount counts as a misdemeanor with a possible prison sentence of one year. Possessing over an ounce counts as a felony with a possible prison sentence of 1–10 years.

Likewise, the cultivation and sale of any amount of cannabis is a felony, with a possible prison sentence of 1–10 years.

What Types of Cannabis Products Can I Purchase in Georgia?

Patients in Georgia only have access to low-THC oil, with a maximum THC content of 5%. You cannot purchase cannabis in its natural form or edible or vape products containing THC.

How Much Cannabis Can I Buy & Possess?

You can possess up to 20 fluid ounces of low-THC oil with a Low THC Oil Registry card. The oil must be in a pharmaceutical container and labeled by the manufacturer, including how much THC the product contains.

Where Can I LEGALLY Purchase MMJ in GA?

MMJ patients in Georgia are still waiting for dispensaries to open so they can legally buy their low-THC oil. The Commission is in the process of issuing licenses, and sales are expected to begin at some point in 2023.

Can I Take My MMJ to a Different State?

Cannabis is federally illegal, and cannabis products cannot be transported across state lines. This includes the low-THC oil covered by the Georgia MMJ program.

There is no reciprocity between Georgia and other states for medical cannabis products. However, visitors may be able to possess low-THC oil lawfully, provided their home state has the same possession laws as Georgia and they have a valid registration card.