Georgia Senate Is Attempting to Further Restrict Medical Marijuana Program

The Georgia Senate wants to limit the potency of marijuana in the state’s medical marijuana program. They are also trying to downsize the program.

Senators in Georgia want to reduce the THC potency permitted in marijuana oil from 5-percent to 3-percent, according to myAJC.

For the opposition, J-Bo Wages said, “If they cut it back this year, what’s to say they won’t cut it back again after that? You have some children who need more than 3-percent.”

Georgia Senators say they will only approve Senate Bill 16, which will add autism to the list of qualifying conditions, if the THC limit is reduced. Some Senators, like William Ligon, think that Georgia is “off the charts”.

Ligon said, “Georgia is really off the charts. And we’re dealing with a substance the federal government says is illegal.”

Regarding lowering THC percentage limits, Dr. Thrower said, “We feel like we’re going backward. I don’t see any of my patients getting high right now. Most of my patients want to be functional, they want to be participants in life.”

Lowering the THC potency of marijuana oil in Georgia, especially for patients with severely debilitating conditions may do more harm than good. As the qualifying conditions list expands in the state, the Georgia lawmakers will have to consider whether these limitations are hurting or helping those in the program. Lower THC levels than what is allowed now, which doesn’t help all patients as it is, may only cause the decline of their health and increase of debilitating systems. Families and supporters of expansion without reduction of THC are hoping things go their way.