By Monterey Bud

 

Headed to the desk of Georgia’s Gov. Nathan Deal for his approving signature, legislation sponsored by Sen. Ben Watson (R-1st District) that expands the state’s medical marijuana program was overwhelmingly passed on Thursday by the state Senate.

Approved by a 45-6 vote, SB 16 represents a brokered compromise between the Senate and House negotiated earlier this month. Once signed by the governor, the bill will add six additional conditions to Georgia’s current form of limited medical marijuana.

George’s Six New Medical Marijuana Conditions:

• AIDS
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Autism
• Epidermolysis Bullosa
• Peripheral Neuropathy
• Tourette Syndrome

First passed in 2015, George’s current medical marijuana guidelines allow qualifying patients to possess up to 20 ounces of low-THC cannabis oil (5% THC by weight). In addition to adding six new conditions to the list of qualifying ailments, patients relegated to hospice care would be legally allowed to possess and medicate with the beneficial oil.

Prior to the passage of this legislation, Georgia had restricted their medical marijuana program to the following eight conditions: Cancer, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), epilepsy-related seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis (MS), Crohn’s disease, mitochondrial disease, Parkinson’s disease, and sickle cell.

Acceptable to 45 of Georgia’s more empathetic policymakers, the following six legislators voted “no” on compassion:

• Sen. Dean Burke (R–11th District)
• Sen. Bill Heath (R–31st District)
• Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (R–52nd District)
• Sen. William T Ligon (R–3rd District)
• Sen. Chuck Payne (R– 54th District)
• Sen. Lindsey Tippins (R– 37th District

Gov. Deal, who has historically been cautious on the topic of expanding George’s medical marijuana program, informed reporters back in 2014, “All of us were moved by the families and the children that were involved with the medical marijuana bill and I certainly think that all of us want to try to figure out if there’s something we can do to provide them with the kind of assistance they need.”

Representing incremental progress for the sick and suffering in the Peach State, Gov. Deal will now have 40 days to either sign or veto the measure during his final term in office.