A new chapter for Georgia’s hemp industry began with the recent implementation of the Georgia Hemp Farming Act, signed into law earlier this year. These regulations mark a significant shift in the state’s approach to managing hemp products and providing clarity for consumers. Here’s what you need to know about how this law impacts everything from legal products to industry standards in Georgia.
What Georgia’s New Hemp Law Encompasses
The new hemp law, based on S.B. 494, aims to establish a regulatory framework that addresses everything from licensing to consumption age restrictions. While the medical marijuana program remains untouched, the rules create changes that affect consumers, retailers, and producers in the hemp industry.
Under the Georgia Hemp Farming Act, the state has enforced regulations across the supply chain:
Age Restrictions: Consumers must now be over 21 to purchase consumable hemp products in Georgia.
Licensing Requirements: All hemp growers, processors, manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers must hold a license from the state, creating a more controlled and regulated market.
Product Limitations: Hemp food products are prohibited. Specifically, products like hemp-infused baked goods or snacks meant for physical sustenance are now illegal. However, gummies and tinctures remain legal.
Updated THC Content Standards: Georgia now includes delta-9 THC and THC-A in its THC content regulations, aligning the state’s testing requirements with federal standards, which effectively bans most THC-A products.
Alcohol-Containing Hemp Products: Any hemp beverage that contains alcohol is strictly prohibited.
These guidelines are part of Georgia’s effort to regulate the market, keep potentially harmful products away from minors, and ensure that consumers have access to safe, high-quality products. Governor Brian Kemp has highlighted the importance of this legislation, noting it provides “guardrails to protect Georgia’s children and communities as this industry evolves.”
Georgia’s Medical Marijuana Program
Unlike recreational marijuana, which remains illegal in Georgia, medical marijuana is available under the state’s Low-THC Oil Registry program. However, this program is limited and strictly regulated. Patients on the registry are permitted to possess up to 20 fluid ounces of low-THC oil, which is capped at 5% THC. Although a restricted option, having a medical marijuana card is still beneficial.
For residents with qualifying medical conditions, a medical marijuana card provides access to a legal and safe source of low-THC oil. Here’s why it can be the right choice:
Reliable Access to Regulated Products: Medical marijuana cardholders in Georgia have access to regulated products designed to ensure quality and safety. Unlike unregulated CBD or delta-8 products, medical marijuana oil must meet stringent standards and is typically subject to more rigorous testing.
Reduced Legal Risks: Possession of any THC-containing product without a medical marijuana card remains illegal in Georgia. Having a card provides legal protection for patients who require these products for health reasons.
Understanding Georgia’s Low-THC Oil Program and How to Qualify
Georgia’s medical marijuana program allows the use of low-THC oil specifically for a list of qualifying medical conditions. Conditions approved by the state include severe forms of epilepsy, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis, among others. To access this oil, patients must meet the criteria established by the state and be certified by a Georgia-licensed physician.
Once approved, patients receive a Low-THC Oil Registry Card, which legally authorizes them to possess up to 20 fluid ounces of low-THC oil, containing no more than 5% THC by weight. While these limits may not provide strong psychoactive effects, the oil’s therapeutic benefits make it highly valued by those with qualifying conditions.
Key Points from Georgia’s New Law
Georgia’s new hemp legislation does not directly impact its medical marijuana program. However, it does clarify rules surrounding various cannabinoids and hemp products:
Consumable Hemp: While baked goods are banned, consumable hemp products such as tinctures, gummies, and vape products are still legal and available in Georgia.
Delta-8 and Delta-10: These cannabinoids remain unregulated in Georgia, giving residents access to these less-psychoactive products, which are often derived from hemp.
Online Retail Options: Georgia residents are permitted to order legal hemp products from retailers outside the state and have them shipped directly to Georgia.
These rules serve as a clear guide for both consumers and producers, helping prevent accidental violations and misunderstandings around product legality.
Potential Future Changes
The Georgia Department of Agriculture has suggested additional potential regulations, including updates to packaging, labeling, and serving sizes for certain products. These adjustments may affect:
Serving Sizes: Proposed limitations on delta-9 THC concentration per serving, especially for gummies and beverages, aim to protect consumers by limiting their intake of intoxicating compounds.
Labeling and Advertising: Future rules could standardize packaging information, ensuring consumers know exactly what they are purchasing and making informed choices.
These proposed updates signal that while Georgia is expanding access to hemp products, it is also intent on enforcing standards that keep consumers safe.
While Georgia’s medical marijuana program is limited to low-THC oil, having a medical marijuana card provides qualifying patients with a secure, legal means to manage certain health conditions. With no recreational marijuana available, it’s essential to remember that for Georgia residents with legitimate medical needs, medical marijuana is the only safe and reliable option for legally accessing THC.
The Bottom Line
Georgia’s new hemp law represents a step toward a more structured approach to marijuana-related products within the state. While the rules may seem restrictive to some, they’re designed to foster a safer, more regulated market for all Georgians. From age restrictions to product limitations, the regulations aim to balance access with safety.
With medical marijuana as the only current legal source of THC for medical patients, it’s essential to obtain a medical marijuana card if you qualify. For now, Georgians can expect regulated access to low-THC oil and a burgeoning hemp industry that is gradually embracing regulation.
As Georgia’s laws evolve, the hope is that a balance will be struck that provides safe, accessible marijuana products to those who need them most while protecting public health and well-being.
Get Ready for Medical Marijuana in Georgia
Medical marijuana is potentially beneficial for those who struggle with substance misuse. Even though this is still being investigated, it might be an affordable, safe option for people to work toward recovery.
Despite some delays, Georgia will soon have access to medical marijuana! To give patients the relief they deserve, we hope Georgia dispensaries should open their doors in 2023.
If you are still determining if you qualify, we can help! Just give us a call.
You can reserve an evaluation online today with one of our compassionate cannabis doctors, and we'll make an appointment as soon as possible. Feel free to ask any questions in the meantime!
You and your new doctor will discuss your conditions and whether you qualify for a Georgia Marijuana Card. And if you make your reservation online today, you'll save $25 off your evaluation!
Feel free to call us at (866) 781-5606, and we can help answer your questions about getting medical marijuana in Georgia.
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