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Category Archives: medical marijuana

Rep. Peake Maneuvers Medical Cannabis around Sen. Unterman

March 19, 2016 GLORIA TATUM 6 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — Deja Vu: State Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Buford) is again holding another medical cannabis bill hostage in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee that she chairs. Several years ago she held HB 855 hostage, and now its HB 722. http://atlantaprogressivenews.com/2014/03/17/medical-cannabis-bill-approved-by-georgia-senate-committee-heads-to-full-senate/ However, the unsinkable State Rep. Allen Peake (R-Macon), who authored HB 722, has come […]

HB 722, In-State Cultivation, Gutted, but Peake Fights Back with Referendum Proposal

February 26, 2016 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — On Monday, February 22, 2016, the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee eliminated in-state cultivation of medical cannabis from HB 722. The revised HB 722 still adds several medical conditions to Georgia’s existing medical cannabis immunity laws; and adds one cannabinoid, Tetrahydrocannabinol Acid (THCA). HB 722 has been gutted from 24 pages down to only seven. […]

Rep. Peake’s HB 722, In-State Cultivation, Gets a Committee Hearing

February 3, 2016 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA – On Monday, January 25, 2016, patients and parents testified to the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee asking for their support for HB 722, a follow-up bill to HB 1, Haleigh’s Hope Act. HB 1 allowed possession of medical cannabis oil for eight conditions, but no legal means to access it in-state. http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20152016/HB/722 The bill, if […]

Sen. Jones Discusses Bill Reducing Cannabis Possession Charges

January 24, 2016 GLORIA TATUM One comment

(APN) ATLANTA — On Wednesday, January 20, 2016, State Sen. Harold Jones ( D-Augusta) held a news conference at the State Capitol to discuss SB 254, which would change Georgia law regarding personal possession of over one ounce or more of cannabis (“marijuana”) from a felony to a misdemeanor charge. The bill does not decriminalize or legalize cannabis. Under […]

Commission Hears Sheriffs’ Objections to Medical Cannabis in Georgia

October 29, 2015 GLORIA TATUM 15 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — The Wednesday, October 28, 2015 meeting of the Georgia Commission on Medical Cannabis heard testimony from law enforcement officials, the Georgia Pharmacy Association, and a medical cannabis security specialist. The high point of the day was when Rick Allen, Director of the Georgia Drug and Narcotic Agency, mentioned the State of Connecticut has rescheduled cannabis from […]

Excluded Black Lawmakers Hold Own Hearing on Medical Cannabis in Georgia

October 22, 2015 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — On Tuesday, October 20, 2015, the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC) held a Minority Medical Cannabis Commission Hearing to gather information and recommendations from their community. Minorities testified on how consistently the door has been shut to their participation in the legislative process related to medical cannabis in Georgia. Not one Black doctor is on […]

Georgia Medical Cannabis Commission Hears Benefits of THC

October 5, 2015 GLORIA TATUM 3 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — On Wednesday, September 30, 2015, the Georgia Commission on Medical Cannabis latest hearing erupted in debate between two Commission Members on whether Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the chemical components of cannabis, is harmful or beneficial. Dr. Yong Park, a neurologist with Georgia Regents University, and Dr. Cynthia Wetmore, Hematologist/Oncologist, with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, disagreed with […]

Georgia Medical Cannabis Commission Hears Cultivation Options

August 28, 2015 GLORIA TATUM Leave a comment

(APN) ATLANTA — The Georgia Commission on Medical Cannabis–the purpose of which is to study the feasibility of in-state medical cannabis cultivation in Georgia–held its second meeting, August 26, 2015 in the Coverdell building next to the State Capitol in downtown Atlanta. Three more meetings are planned before the end of this year. As previously reported by Atlanta Progressive […]

New Medical Cannabis Commission Holds First Hearing

June 21, 2015 GLORIA TATUM

(APN) ATLANTA — The Georgia Commission on Medical Cannabis–created by the General Assembly as part of a compromise with Gov. Nathan Deal, to explore in-state medical cannabis cultivation–met at the State Capitol on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 to discuss guidelines to access medical cannabis in Georgia. One featured speaker was Brenda Fitzgerald, MD,, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of […]

APN Legislative Wrap-Up: Georgia General Assembly 2015

April 9, 2015 GLORIA TATUM 2 comments

With additional reporting by Anna Simonton and Matthew Charles Cardinale. Photograph by Steve Eberhardt. (APN) ATLANTA — The Georgia General Assembly wrapped up the 2015 legislative session on Thursday, April 02, 2015. There were a few progressive highlights in the majority-Republican Legislature, including a solar power lease agreement bill; a limited medical cannabis bill; and more flexibility for MARTA […]

Medical Cannabis Oil Bill Headed to Gov. Deal’s Desk

April 1, 2015 GLORIA TATUM 8 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — On Tuesday, March 24, 2015 the Georgia Senate passed HB 1, Haleigh’s Hope Act, by a vote of 48 to 6. On Wednesday, March 25, the Georgia House passed HB 1 by a vote of 160 to 1. Gov. Nathan Deal signed an executive order on Friday, March 27, directing state agencies to begin preparing for […]

State Senate Committee Passes Improved Cannabis Oil Legislation

March 21, 2015 GLORIA TATUM 28 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — The Georgia Senate Health and Human Services Committee, after over four hours of testimony, finally passed an amended Senate version, similar to HB 1, with bipartisan support. The bill provides immunity from prosecution in the State of Georgia for patients who use cannabis oil, up to five percent THC in the oil, who received a doctor’s […]

Georgia Senate Passes Pitiful Medical Cannabis Research Bill

March 15, 2015 GLORIA TATUM 10 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — On Friday, March 13, 2015, the Georgia Senate passed SB 185, a medical cannabis research bill, which provides for clinical trials of cannabidiol-containing products to treat Georgia residents under 18 who have medication-resistant cases of epilepsy. It passed the full Senate by a vote of 54 yeas and one nay. The only nay was State […]

Watered-down Medical Cannabis Bill Stalls in House Committee

February 5, 2015 GLORIA TATUM 5 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — At the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee Hearing on Tuesday, February 03, 2015, State Rep. Allen Peake (R-Macon) introduced HB 1, a revised version of last year Haleigh’s Hope. The bill offers immunity for those who have obtained the oil from a state where it is legal to manufacture and sell the cannabis oil, but does not […]

Georgia Medical Cannabis Study Committee Holds First Hearing

August 28, 2014 GLORIA TATUM 3 comments

(APN) ATLANTA — The first of five hearings of the Georgia Medical Cannabis Joint Study Committee was held at the Georgia State Capitol, on August 27, 2014. Three expert witnesses were invited to speak: Paige Figi and Matt Cook from Colorado; and James Bell, Executive Director of Georgia Campaign for Access, Reform and Education (CARE), from Atlanta. […]

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