Buzz Kill: Georgia will not grow medical marijuana anytime soon

According to a source close to the situation, medical marijuana will not be grown in Georgia anytime soon.

Macon Rep. Allen Peake, the lawmaker who has pushed medical marijuana legislation since the beginning, stripped in-state cultivation from House Bill 722 on Monday.

This comes amid growing conces from other lawmakers, law enforcement and religious groups, and Goveor Nathan Deal in recent weeks and months.

All have waed against growing medical marijuana in Georgia.

HB 722 was viewed by some as the next step after House Bill 1 passed last year allowing patients to use and possess a certain type of cannabis oil. Patients were hoping HB 722 would make it easier for them to obtain medical marijuana.

A revised version of HB 722, stripping it of the in-state cultivation language, could be voted on Monday the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee Monday.

Last week's meeting between the creators of the bill and the goveor to discuss in-state cultivation were unproductive.

Currently, they have to travel to other states, and in some cases break laws to get it back to Georgia.

HB 722 also aimed to give a greater number of patients access to the drug by expanding the allowed illnesses from eight to 17.

That number has now been reduced in the revised version of HB 722 up for a vote Monday.

PTSD and intractable pain have been removed from that list.

In-state cultivation was considered a long shot by many, including Peake, before the session started and the bill was introduced.

A commission formed last year to study the issue of growing medical marijuana in Georgia decided not to make a recommendation to Goveor Deal on how to properly cultivate the drug.