Georgia Cannabis Overview

While many states are expanding into legal recreational marijuana use, Georgia is finally adding accessibility to a 2015 voter approval of medical marijuana. The program, which legalized low-THC, high-CBD medical cannabis had a catch. It allowed the use of medicinal marijuana oil, but it remained illegal to purchase it. 

In 2019, House Bill 324 was designed to fix this loophole, but as of today there still aren’t any dispensaries where registered patients can buy cannabis. 

Things finally seem to be moving on the cannabis front. Georgia closed license applications in January 2021 and plans to award just six licenses to the over 70 that applied. The licenses will be divided into two types:

• Two Class 1 Producer/Processor business licenses (limited to 100,000 sq. cultivation space)
• No more than four  Class 2 Producer/Processor licenses (limited to 50,000 sq. cultivation space)

Diversity and Inclusion in Georgia

In a state with a high African American and Veteran population, it was important to the state to incorporate diversity inclusion within the licensing of cannabis businesses. Diverse participants include individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds and communities; women; veterans; and individuals with disabilities.  

For Class 2 production licenses, one of the requirements for applying was that the management team included at least one minority individual or enterprise that would have significant involvement in the business. Additionally, applicants were required to describe the diversity in their management team and board members.

Under the Employment Plan for Class 2 production license, applicants were asked to:

• Explain how they will promote and ensure diverse representation in hiring, employment, and contracting opportunities. 
• Demonstrate a significant (minimum of 20 percent) involvement in the business by one or more minority business enterprises as significant suppliers of goods and services for the business 
• Demonstrate business relationships with Georgia agricultural businesses and military veterans. Evidence must be verified by including current minority business certification by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) or the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC).

Program Highlights

In Georgia producers can only produce medical marijuana oil with a THC no higher than five percent. The six license holders will have the opportunity to open five dispensaries each., which means there is the potential for 30 dispensaries to open in the state.  Each company would be allowed to open an additional dispensary for every 10,000 patients that register in the future. Once the licenses are awarded, companies have a year to begin operation. 

Georgia Medical Cannabis Qualifying Conditions

The strict Georgia law allows patients with the following conditions to register for medical marijuana access:

• Cancer, when such diagnosis is end stage or the treatment produces related wasting illness or recalcitrant nausea and vomiting
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, when such diagnosis is severe or end stage 
• Seizure disorders related to diagnosis of epilepsy or trauma related head injuries
• Multiple sclerosis, when such diagnosis is severe or end stage
• Crohn’s disease
• Mitochondrial disease 
• Parkinson’s disease, when such diagnosis is severe or end stage
• Sickle cell disease, when such diagnosis is severe or end stage 
• Tourette’s syndrome, when such syndrome is diagnosed as severe 
• Autism spectrum disorder, when (a) patient is 18 years of age or more, or (b) patient is less than 18 years of age and diagnosed with severe autism 
• Epidermolysis bullosa 
• Alzheimer’s disease, when such disease is severe or end stage 
• AIDS when such syndrome is severe or end stage 
• Peripheral neuropathy, when symptoms are severe or end stage
•  Patient is in hospice program, either as inpatient or outpatient
• Intractable pain 
• Post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from direct exposure to or witnessing of a trauma for a patient who is at least 18 years of age

The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission, which is administratively assigned to the Secretary of State’s Office, will oversee the growing, manufacturing, and dispensing of low THC oil in Georgia. In 2020 Andrew Turnage was appointed its executive director.

We have successfully secured licenses for clients in over 20 markets across the United States. If you are interested in applying for a dispensary license, contact us by phone at (602)-290-9424‬ or email (info@thecannabisbusinessadvisors.com) for more information.