Georgia Lawmakers Tackle Medical Marijuana Testing

Georgia’s Medical Cannabis Commission Oversight Committee must decide how the state would conduct required testing of cannabis oil before the rollout of the state’s medical marijuana program.

The committee was supposed to recommend a process and plan for providing accredited lab testing and labeling of the medical cannabis oil by Aug. 1, according to law, but the program launch has faced delays.

Rep. Micah Gravley, R–Douglasville, said the delays were caused by “unforeseen circumstances,” but cannabis trade advocates said the pandemic, understaffing and underfunding were to blame.

Patients with a Low THC Oil Registry card legally can purchase up to 20 fluid ounces of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oil from licensed dispensaries or pharmacies under legislation signed into law by former Gov. Nathan Deal in 2015.

Gov. Brian Kemp has pushed forward the process since taking office, signing Georgia’s Hope Act in April 2019. It created the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission to oversee the regulation of the industry.

The commission picked six companies in July to start producing the plant for medical uses in the state, but the oversight committee must create a process to ensure the oil stays within the potency guidelines of the law. The law allows patients to access medical cannabis oil in the state with no more than 5% THC. THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis. [Read more at The Georgia Virtue]