Marijuana bills filed in Georgia Senate

State Sen. Curt Thompson (D-Norcross) pre-filed Senate Bill 7 and Senate Resolution 6 on Monday, proposals legalizing marijuana for medical use and fully legalizing retail sale of marijuana to adults in Georgia, respectively.

If S.B. 7 becomes law, medical professionals will be able to prescribe marijuana in amounts of up to two ounces to treat a whole variety of conditions associated with ALS, Chrone's Disease, HIV, AIDs, and cancer, among others.  The details of the use of the substance would be heavily regulated by a new state authority that would be created especially for that reason.

The Senate Resolution 6 requires voter approval because it would amend the state constitution.  If approved, S.R. 6 would legalize the sale of marijuana in licensed shops. The sales would be regulated and taxed, with tax profits earmarked for education and transportation infrastructure.

”During the 2015 legislative session, we will have the opportunity to provide our doctors with an additional tool by legalizing marijuana for medical use. This past summer, a joint study committee examined the options for legalizing marijuana and, already, three bi-partisan bills have been filed, said Thompson. ”Our discussions of marijuana in Georgia – in its many forms – have been largely limited to children’s health. While I adamantly support cannabis oil treatments for children with severe medical problems, I believe physicians should have the ability to care for all of their patients, regardless of age. SB 7 would provide doctors another tool for care and treatment.

The issue of marijuana legalization for medical use is set to be one of the main topics discussed in the upcoming legislative session beginning on January 12, 2015. A similar measure introduced last year failed to pass after very passionate and bruising discussion.