Georgia lawmakers were late joining the cohort of states across the country to make medical marijuana available to patients suffering from a myriad of painful maladies and acute conditions which can be eased by access to cannabis and medical marijuana, but they are rapidly catching up to more progressive states across the nation where medical marijuana and recreational marijuana have been legalized.
Georgia, and by default Atlanta, are slated for firsts in the medical marijuana space – both will be the first to distribute the cannabis derivative in more than 400 pharmacies with the exception of CVS and Walgreens. The historic move puts Georgia, which has traditionally been more rigid and restrictive than other states regarding medical marijuana at the forefront of the most progressive in the nation.
The Georgia Board of Pharmacy to date has accepted more than 120 applications to provide the product to patients in need.
According to patients, their necessity for easier access to medically-approved marijuana makes this regulation a step in the right direction, especially for a southern state. Across the nation, marijuana distribution and usage has been disproportionately impacting Black and Brown people the most, but this new distribution will continue to dismantle the racist criminal history of the drug.
The state’s only two licensed cannabis producers, Botanical Sciences LLC and Trulieve Cannabis Corp. would provide the pharmacies with products. The two were the first in Georgia to get the green light earlier this year to serve registered medical cannabis patients.
Medical marijuana has been dispensed in Georgia via a limited medical marijuana program, although there are only seven dispensaries around the state. The use of medical marijuana is allowed for specific qualifying conditions, such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, and certain forms of cancer. Patients with these conditions could apply for a…
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