Senate committee approves wider medical cannabis access, allows vaping and raises potency cap to 50%

The Georgia Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Thursday approved a substitute to SB 220 that makes multiple changes to the state's medical cannabis law, including renaming the program, increasing the maximum THC concentration to 50%, allowing vaporized products, and changing the list of qualifying conditions.

Sponsor Sen. Brass said the substitute reflects patient and clinician feedback collected during a commission listening tour. “The listening tour did a listening tour with patients and and doctors that were all within the program,” he said, and described three central changes: renaming the program from "low-THC oil" to a "medical cannabis" program; increasing the allowable concentration from the present 5% cap to 50%; and expanding permitted product types (for example, vape cartridges and gummies) while excluding raw plant flower and certain food products regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The substitute also increases a standard possession measure to two ounces (the sponsor said that accounts for patients traveling long distances and seeking a 30-day…