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Senate passes major changes to Georgia medical cannabis program, raising THC limit and allowing vaping
Summary
The Senate passed SB 220, renaming the program 'medical cannabis,' raising allowable THC concentration for medical products from 5% to 50%, and permitting vaping under limited conditions after hours of debate about public health, access and youth risk.
The Georgia Senate on March 11 passed Senate Bill 220, a rewrite of the state's medical cannabis law that increases the maximum allowable THC concentration for medical products and restores vaping as a route of administration for some patients.
The bill, presented on the floor by the senator from the 6, passed by a roll call of 39 yeas to 17 nays after extended debate. The sponsor said the changes are intended to improve access for patients with conditions that have not responded to other therapies, and to align program vocabulary with other states by renaming the program from "low THC oil" to "medical cannabis." "This bill would take us from 5% to 50," the senator from the 6 said on the floor, arguing the change is needed for some patients to gain symptomatic relief.
Supporters said the bill also clarifies qualifying conditions, expands physician discretion for patients whose symptoms "can reasonably be expected to be relieved by the use of medical cannabis" and preserves a program structure that requires a physician recommendation and registration. The measure adds a provision that the doctor's judgment must find that the benefits to a patient outweigh potential health risks.
Opponents warned the higher THC ceiling and the restored allowance for vaping could broaden use beyond the narrow, medicinal population. "This bill increases what can be given to people legally by 10 times the concentration that exists today," said the senator from the 30 seventh, who led a prolonged floor criticism, saying the shift would risk increased adolescent exposure and long-term cognitive harms referenced in research cited during debate.
Lawmakers who supported the bill emphasized it is limited to prescription medical use and said the program retains controls including physician oversight and a state registry. The bill also updates several condition descriptions and moves program terminology to "medical cannabis" throughout state law.
The bill passed by substitute. It will now head to the House for further consideration.
Votes and next steps: SB 220 passed the Senate on March 11 (39-17) and will proceed to the House. Provisions take effect on the dates specified in the enacted language.
