Georgia Lawmakers Push to Expand State’s Medical Cannabis Program

Georgia’s medical cannabis program could see significant changes as lawmakers push forward with new legislation. If passed, the proposed bills would expand access, update terminology, and broaden the list of qualifying conditions—moves that could bring relief to thousands of patients who currently face restrictive barriers.

A Long Road to Change

Georgia’s journey with medical cannabis has been slow and tightly controlled. The state legalized low-THC oil for certain medical conditions in 2015, but it took another eight years before the first dispensaries opened in 2023. Even now, the program remains one of the most restrictive in the nation.

The law currently allows for only a few specific product types—5% THC oil, lotions, transdermal patches, and capsules. Patients suffering from conditions like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease must have a “severe” or “end-stage” diagnosis to qualify. That restriction alone has left many without legal access to a treatment they believe could help.

A potential shift is on the horizon.

House Bill 227: A Step Toward Greater Access

On Feb. 27, the Georgia House overwhelmingly approved House Bill 227 in a 164-1 vote. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Robert Dickey, aims to make three key changes to the existing law:

• Expand the list of qualifying conditions to include Lupus.
• Remove the requirement that a condition be “severe” or “end-stage” for a patient to qualify.
• Update terminology from “low-THC oil” to “medical cannabis” to better align with industry standards.

Dickey framed the proposal as a simple but meaningful update to the program. Speaking on the House floor, he emphasized that treatment decisions should be left to patients and their doctors—not limited by rigid legal definitions. “I think it ought to be the patients and the doctors [who] decide when they have these conditions when they can use these products, and I wanted them to be able to use it before hospice was called in,” he said.

Will These Changes Be Enough?

While the bill marks progress, cannabis legalization advocates remain skeptical. Many argue that Georgia’s program is still far too limited to be considered a legitimate medical cannabis system.

Nationally, 39 states have legalized medical cannabis, but Georgia, Texas, and Iowa remain outliers due to their strict THC caps and usage limits. Texas caps THC content at 1%, while Iowa allows only 4.5 grams of THC every 90 days. These constraints prevent widespread patient access, keeping the programs from being categorized as true medical cannabis systems by most advocacy groups.

Even with the proposed changes, Georgia’s approach remains cautious. Unlike states where patients have access to a wide range of cannabis products—including flower, edibles, and full-spectrum oils—Georgia still restricts product types and THC levels.

Patient Numbers Remain Low

Another indicator of the program’s limitations is its enrollment numbers. As of December 2024, just over 26,000 patients were registered in Georgia’s low-THC program, according to the state’s Department of Public Health. That’s a small fraction compared to states with more open medical cannabis laws.

For context, Florida—a neighboring state with a much broader medical cannabis program—has over 800,000 registered patients. Even smaller states with more inclusive policies, like Oklahoma, have well over 300,000 patients enrolled.

The Path Forward

The fate of House Bill 227 now lies in the hands of the state Senate. While it passed the House with near-unanimous support, it remains to be seen whether the bill will face opposition in the next legislative stage.

Supporters argue that this is a necessary step toward modernizing Georgia’s approach to medical cannabis. Critics, however, may see it as a minor tweak that doesn’t go far enough.

For now, thousands of Georgia patients are watching closely, hoping the state will finally open more doors to legal treatment options.