Subcommittee clears bill to let licensed low‑THC oil companies advertise in Georgia

House Bill 342, a deregulation measure to remove advertising prohibitions for Georgia’s licensed low‑THC oil producers, was advanced by the special subcommittee on Oct. 12, 2025.

Representative Horner described the bill as a narrow deregulation: it strikes a code section that the presenter said prohibits licensed producers from advertising to Georgia residents while out‑of‑state operators advertise freely across state lines. "This is a well regulated industry. It's 6 companies that we regulate every year in the state of Georgia," Horner said. "This is just deregulation of allowing them to advertise. That way our PTSD veterans and other people that need this medical treatment can get that medical treatment." He added the bill would not change other program rules for low‑THC oil.

Josh Mackey, who identified himself as representing True Leave of Georgia, one of the six licensed producers, testified in favor. "We make it in Georgia. We sell it in Georgia under authority of the state," Mackey said, noting current limits allow vendors to provide information only to physicians and that prospective patients must rely on physician referrals or the Medical Cannabis Commission website to locate licensed providers.

Committee members asked what forms of advertising would be permitted. Mackey and Horner said the bill leaves advertising choices to the companies and suggested broad mass marketing would be unlikely because the registry for eligible patients is limited (the presenter cited fewer than 28,000 people on the registry). Members raised concerns about out‑of‑state operators advertising across state lines and asked whether the change would result in more visible local advertising; proponents said out‑of‑state advertising already reaches Georgia residents.

A motion to pass was made, seconded and carried by voice vote. The chair announced the bill passes out of the subcommittee; the transcript records no roll‑call tally.