Medical marijuana is not completely legal in Georgia. State legislators passed a law in 2015 permitting Georgians to use cannabis oil in very specific medical treatment circumstances.
The current law s, however, do not allow farmers to grow marijuana for cannabis oil. This forces doctors and patients to buy cannabis oil from expensive out-of-state producers. Even worse, the transportation of marijuana over state lines is risky because it’s a federal offense, and it could land you in prison.
Why the current law is not enough
Let’s say you’re suffering from AIDS. Marijuana could help you combat nausea, improve your appetite and keep down food. However, it’s illegal to use cannabis oil to treat AIDS right now. If you try to use it anyway, you face the risk of being arrested and prosecuted for a marijuana possession offense.
That said, you can use marijuana to treat the following conditions: Crohn’s disease, Cancer, mitochondrial disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, multiple sclerosis, sickle cell disease and seizure disorders. Again, however, it’s legally risky and financially expensive to bring your much-needed medicine into Georgia.
New hope for medical marijuana in Georgia
In mid-January 2017, approximately six state legislators cosponsored a new measure to allow the public to decide whether Georgians can grow marijuana for medical purposes. The proposed law doesn’t pinpoint where marijuana will be grown, how marijuana will be sold nor who will grow it.
Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon, is leading the effort behind the proposed bill. He said that the political climate within the Legislature was not sufficient to pass a cultivation bill. He feels that allowing the public to decide will bring a decision on the matter more quickly.
In addition to allowing for cultivation, Peake is also leading an effort to expand the medical application of medical marijuana beyond its current and limited scope. Peake filed another piece of legislation to expand marijuana for treatment of Alzheimer’s, intractable pain, AIDS, Tourette’s syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Marijuana crimes defense
If you’re suffering from a serious condition, and you’re facing marijuana charges because you tried to alleviate your disease symptoms, a marijuana crimes defense lawyer can help. By contacting a criminal defense attorney in Georgia, you can evaluate your circumstances to determine the most suitable course of action to employ in your criminal defense.