Cannabis in Georgia (U.S. state)

In the 1970s and 1980s, a number of county sheriffs and deputies were prosecuted for their involvement in the drug trade, including Sheriff John David Davis, a former moonshiner who had been pardoned by President Nixon and was convicted in 1984 of smuggling cannabis into south Georgia. Davis' case parallels that of a number of other former moonshiners who segued into the cannabis trade.{{cite book|author=Vincent Coppola|title=The Sicilian Judge: Anthony Alaimo, an American Hero|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GfUDb5iivEQC&pg=PA221|year=2008|publisher=Mercer University Press|isbn=978-0-88146-125-1|pages=221–}}

In 1983, amidst controversy, the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted aerial spraying of illegal cannabis plots in the Chattahoochee National Forest in northern Georgia, using the herbicide paraquat.{{cite news |last1=Russakoff |first1=Dale |title=Use of Paraquat to Kill Marijuana Stirs Protests |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1983/08/25/use-of-paraquat-to-kill-marijuana-stirs-protests/33fc0618-ecb8-4b2c-be2a-9bf71f659553/ |access-date=August 26, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 25, 1983}} Citizens and a congressman objected, noting paraquat's dangers, and a temporary restraining order was placed on further spraying. The federal Drug Abuse Policy Officer Pat McKelvey rebutted that paraquat is a safe and widely used herbicide, and alleged that the objections to the DEA spraying had been raised by cannabis growers and legalization advocates.{{cite book|title=New Scientist|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qBZ7KsofK60C&pg=PA531|date=25 August 1983|publisher=Reed Business Information|pages=531–|issn=0262-4079}}

In February 1980, a 50-0 Senate vote and a 156-8 House vote passed Mona Taft's bill supporting legal medical marijuana in Georgia for people diagnosed with glaucoma and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. Members from both parties came together to support Taft, including then-state Sen. Paul Broun. According to a Feb. 14, 1980, Knight-Ridder wire report about the bill, Broun hugged Taft when the legislation passed the Senate. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Virlyn Smith, R-Fairburn, even told the widow that he'd recently given a constituent taking chemotherapy a recipe for marijuana-laced chocolate-chip cookies. Georgia's program had effectively ended without ever supplying a single patient with the medical marijuana promised. Subsequent Georgia governors had the authority to reappoint the board, but never acted. As a result, the law has lingered on the books for the last 30 years.{{cite web|url=http://www.creativeloafing.com/news/article/13071973/doctors-wanted-for-georgias-medical-marijuana-law|title=Doctors wanted for Georgia's medical marijuana law |work=Creative Loafing |date=January 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113132228/http://www.creativeloafing.com/news/article/13071973/doctors-wanted-for-georgias-medical-marijuana-law |archive-date=January 13, 2018 |url-status=dead}}

A measure to allow medical cannabis oil up to 5% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) passed the Georgia House in February 2015.{{cite web |url=http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2015/02/27/cannabis-oil-it-will-help-with-the-pain-and-make-life-a-little-more-bearable/ |title=Cannabis Oil: "It Will Help With The Pain And Make Life A Little More Bearable" « CBS Atlanta |publisher=Atlanta.cbslocal.com |date=1995-09-01 |access-date=March 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303023329/http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2015/02/27/cannabis-oil-it-will-help-with-the-pain-and-make-life-a-little-more-bearable/ |archive-date=March 3, 2015 |url-status=dead }} On April 16, 2015, the low-THC cannabis oil (rich in cannabidiol, or CBD) was legalized for medical use in the state under HB 1,{{Cite web|url=http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20152016/HB/1|title=HB 1 2015-2016 Regular Session|website=www.legis.ga.gov|access-date=July 14, 2018}} the Haleigh’s Hope Act.{{cite news |last1=Bluestein |first1=Greg |title=Medical marijuana is now legal in Georgia |url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/medical-marijuana-now-legal-georgia/YuP71J9cOTyxia3iquQ0yK/ |access-date=April 16, 2015 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=April 16, 2015}}{{cite news |title=Georgia enacts bill allowing in-state access to low-THC oil! |url=https://www.mpp.org/states/georgia/ |work=Marijuana Policy Project |date=April 18, 2019}} The bill was immediately enacted after being signed by Governor Nathan Deal. The bill allowed possession of the oil for eight qualifying medical conditions but did not provide for cultivation or distribution within the state. A May 2017 expansion under SB 16 added six more conditions.{{cite news |last1=Baruchman |first1=Michelle |title=Georgia medical marijuana expansion bill signed into law |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/georgia-medical-marijuana-expansion-bill-signed-into-law/Iz3WHluWq8OZ7rdffKUZPM/ |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=May 9, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20172018/SB/16|title=SB 16 2017-2018 Regular Session|website=www.legis.ga.gov|access-date=July 14, 2018}} In 2018, HB 65 added intractable pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).{{Cite web|url=http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20172018/HB/65|title=HB 65 2017-2018 Regular Session|website=www.legis.ga.gov|access-date=July 14, 2018}} In April 2019 legislation was approved (House Bill 324) to allow in-state cultivation of cannabis and sale of the low-THC oil.{{cite news |last1=Mansoor |first1=Sanya |title=Georgia Gov. Kemp signs medical marijuana bill |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/georgia-gov-kemp-signs-medical-marijuana-bill-62463531 |access-date=April 22, 2019 |work=ABC News |agency=Associated Press |date=April 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422125508/https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/georgia-gov-kemp-signs-medical-marijuana-bill-62463531 |archive-date=April 22, 2019 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |last1=Niesse |first1=Mark |title=Medical marijuana oil sales signed into Georgia law |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/medical-marijuana-oil-sales-signed-into-georgia-law/qUIeTcvR49opFbsB5MU36H/ |access-date=April 22, 2019 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=April 17, 2019}} In 2021, SB 195 was approved to allow the sale of cannabis tinctures, transdermal patches, lotions, and capsules, while still prohibiting edible products and flower.{{cite web |title=Georgia |url=https://www.mpp.org/states/georgia/ |publisher=Marijuana Policy Project |access-date=July 14, 2023}} On April 28, 2023, the first licensed sales began with the opening of dispensaries in Marietta and Macon.{{cite news |title=Georgia medical marijuana stores open, ending long struggle |url=https://apnews.com/article/georgia-medical-marijuana-cannabis-oil-dispensaries-ff02dccf6727c71878e3105dfa057f6b |access-date=July 14, 2023 |work=Associated Press |date=April 29, 2023}}

In October 2017, Atlanta City Council voted 15–0 to reduce the penalty for up to {{convert|1|oz}} of cannabis to a $75 fine.{{cite news |last1=Angell |first1=Tom |title=Atlanta Mayor Signs Marijuana Decrim Proposal |url=https://www.marijuanamoment.net/atlanta-mayor-signs-marijuana-decrim-proposal/ |access-date=April 16, 2019 |work=Marijuana Moment |date=October 11, 2017}} Savannah City Council followed in March 2018 by voting 8–1 to reduce the penalty to a $150 fine.{{cite news |last1=Curl |first1=Eric |title=Savannah approves reduced pot penalties |url=https://www.savannahnow.com/article/20180301/NEWS/303019974 |access-date=April 16, 2019 |work=Savannah Morning News |date=March 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417020602/https://www.savannahnow.com/article/20180301/NEWS/303019974 |archive-date=April 17, 2019 |url-status=dead}} Other jurisdictions that have decriminalized or otherwise acted to reduce penalties include: Clarkston (2016),{{cite web |title=Georgia Local Decriminalization |url=https://norml.org/legal/item/georgia-local-decriminalization |website=NORML |access-date=April 16, 2019}} South Fulton (2018), Forest Park (2018), Kingsland (2018), Statesboro (2018),{{cite news |last1=Hackle |first1=Al |title=Council approves jail-free marijuana ordinance |url=https://www.statesboroherald.com/local/council-approves-jail-free-marijuana-ordinance/ |access-date=September 27, 2019 |work=Statesboro Herald |date=December 4, 2018}} Macon–Bibb County (2019),{{cite news |last1=Corley |first1=Laura |title=Macon-Bibb passes new marijuana ordinance: No jail time for small amounts of pot |url=https://www.macon.com/news/local/article230611534.html |access-date=May 22, 2019 |work=The Telegraph |date=May 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203154124/https://www.macon.com/news/local/article230611534.html |archive-date=December 3, 2019}} Augusta (2019),{{cite news |last1=DuBose |first1=Renetta |title=Augusta commission passes easing punishments for marijuana offenses |url=https://www.wjbf.com/csra-news/augusta-commission-passes-easing-punishments-for-marijuana-offenses/ |access-date=February 8, 2024 |work=WJBF |date=August 20, 2019}} Chamblee (2019),{{cite news |last1=Capelouto |first1=J.D. |title=Chamblee decriminalizes marijuana possession |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/just-chamblee-decriminalizes-marijuana-possession/O9CsQKrYjFoo3uNOobUYNJ/ |access-date=September 27, 2019 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=September 18, 2019}} Tybee Island (2021),{{cite news|agency=Associated Press |title=Possession of small amount of marijuana no longer a misdemeanor in Tybee Island |url=https://fox28media.com/news/local/possession-of-small-amount-of-marijuana-no-longer-a-misdemeanor-in-tybee-island-09-07-2021 |work=Fox 28 Savannah |date=September 7, 2021}} Athens–Clarke County (2022),{{cite news |last1=Allen |first1=Stephanie |title=Athens-Clarke commission eliminates jail time, sets $35 fine for marijuana possession |url=https://www.onlineathens.com/story/news/local/2022/08/03/athens-marijuana-decriminalization-ordinance-goes-furthest-georgia/10217423002/ |access-date=August 30, 2022 |work=Athens Banner-Herald |date=August 3, 2022}} Stonecrest (2022),{{cite news |last1=Estep |first1=Tyler |title=DeKalb’s largest city decriminalizes an ounce or less of marijuana |url=https://www.ajc.com/neighborhoods/dekalb/dekalbs-largest-city-decriminalizes-an-ounce-or-less-of-marijuana/Z74LRJL7BZE6JMJBB3F6SPNMHI/ |access-date=February 8, 2024 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=August 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021201032/https://www.ajc.com/neighborhoods/dekalb/dekalbs-largest-city-decriminalizes-an-ounce-or-less-of-marijuana/Z74LRJL7BZE6JMJBB3F6SPNMHI/ |archive-date=October 21, 2022}} and East Point (2023).{{cite news |last1=DiRienzo |first1=Rob |title=East Point City Council votes to decriminalize weed possession |url=https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/east-point-city-council-votes-to-decriminalize-weed-possession |access-date=February 8, 2024 |work=WAGA |date=December 28, 2023}}

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{{Cannabis in the United States}}

Georgia

Category:Georgia (U.S. state) law