Georgia House Speaker expects medical cannabis bill to pass in 2015

Georgia House of Representatives Speaker David Ralston told the Atlanta Joual-Constitution (AJC) in a Friday interview that he expects the Haleigh's Hope Act, a bill legalizing medical marijuana, to pass the House in the next legislative session which adjous on January 12, 2015.

The H.B. 1 would "provide for regulated medicinal use of cannabis and [its] derivatives … to treat certain conditions." The bill, sponsored by Rep. Allen Peake (R-Macon), would legalize cannabis use for medical reasons only in very small doses.  Medical marijuana can be used to treat effects of conditions such as ALS, AIDS, and cancer, and it can be especially helpful for patients dealing with seizure disorders.

"I really, fervently hope that — and I expect — the House will move House Bill 1 quickly," Ralston told the AJC. "And I hope the Senate will look at that issue on its own merits and join with us in passing that bill. Representative Peake has done as good a job pushing a piece of legislation as I’ve seen in a lot of years around this building. He brings great passion and just heartfelt conce for these families on this issue. But he’s done his homework. And I think you’re going to see a very well thought-out and very well put-together bill and I’m hoping we can pass that quickly and get it over to the Senate, and that they will pass it quickly and that we can address that issue.

In the 2014 session, the Legislature failed to pass a similar measure that was attached to another bill. Rep. Peake has become personally involved with the issue of medical cannabis.  The congressman released a documentary "Growing Hope" about the struggles of Georgia families with children who need medical cannabis to control the symptoms of their illness.  Peake also runs the Jouey of Hope Fund that helps families relocate to states that allow the use of medical marijuana.

Two marijuana proposals were pre-filed in the Georgia Senate in November. Senate Bill 7 would legalize medical marijuana, and Senate Resolution 6 would legalize retail sale of marijuana to adults in Georgia.