Georgia becomes the 41st comprehensive medical cannabis state

Georgia now has a comprehensive medical cannabis program. On May 12, 2026, Governor Brian Kemp (R) signed SB 220 – The Georgia Putting Patients First Act — into law. The program is still conservative in nature, but a major improvement to the low-THC program that has been operational since April 2023. The original legislation authorizing the program was passed in 2019, but it took four years to launch. Qualifying patients with a doctors’ certification may register to use cannabis products that can be purchased from certain pharmacies. SB 220 expands Georgia’s medical program by:

• Allowing inhalation, including raw cannabis if it is vaporized, for patients over 21 years of age (it does not allow smoking).
• Removing the 5% cap on THC and adding a personal possession limit of 12,000 milligrams of THC in products at any time.
• Removing language requiring many of the ailments to be either terminal or late-stage.
• Adding lupus as a qualifying condition.
• Replacing Crohn's disease with a broader “Inflammatory bowel disease.”
• Providing reciprocity for out-of-state medical cannabis patients as long as they have not resided in the state for longer than 45 days.

Georgia voters support legalization, but tens of thousands of arrests continue

Georgia’s cannabis policy is grossly out of step with public opinion: Two-thirds of Georgians believe cannabis possession should be legal. But, first-offense possession for an ounce or less of cannabis carries a maximum penalty of up to one year of imprisonment, and 10,743 Georgians were arrested for marijuana possession in 2025. Further, a report by the ACLU shows staggering inequality in the enforcement of marijuana laws. Although Black and white individuals use marijuana at nearly identical rates, Black Georgians are three times more likely than their white counterparts to be arrested for marijuana possession.

In 2026, MPP released a report highlighting arrest data in prohibition and legalization states, along with stories of some of those whose lives were impacted by criminalization. Local allies have been successfully implementing local decriminalization ordinances in cities and counties in the state, but statewide reform is still desperately needed.

Contact your lawmakers and ask them to make cannabis decriminalization a priority.

While legalization does not eliminate disparities, it dramatically reduces the total number of cannabis arrests — and thus the damage done by unequal enforcement. Encouragingly, five of the seven states with the lowest disparities had previously enacted legalization laws.

Evolution of Georgia’s medical cannabis program

In 2015, the Georgia General Assembly approved, and then-Gov. Nathan Deal signed a law allowing registered patients and their caregivers to legally possess up to 20 fluid ounces of low-THC oil with their doctors' recommendations. The bill did not provide a method for patients to purchase the products.

On April 17, 2019, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed Georgia's Hope Act — HB 324 — into law. This law allowed patients to safely access medical cannabis oils with up to 5% THC within Georgia. Sales began in the Summer of 2023.

The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission expanded access to patients by allowing independent pharmacies to carry medical cannabis products. To find an independent pharmacy near you, you can click here. Then on the DCH search page select Pharmacy, then 'Low THC Pharmacy'. There are currently 63 participating independent pharmacies, in addition to the 19 vertically-integrated pharmacies.

In 2021, lawmakers enacted SB 195 and expanded low-THC products beyond oils. Patients are now allowed to purchase tinctures, transdermal patches, lotions, and capsules. With the signing of SB 220 into law in May 2026, vaporization, including of raw flower, will be permitted after regulations are implemented. The 5% THC cap is also being replaced with a cap of 12,000 milligrams of THC in products.

Under the 2019 Georgia’s Hope Act, six producers are allowed to cultivate medical cannabis preparations in Georgia. In November 2023, the Commission issued the final four licenses to Class 2 cultivators for a total of the six licenses total in the state. As of July 2025, there are 33,309 active patients.

Work remains to be done in future legislative sessions to improve the law, including adding edible cannabis products. With the passage of SB 220, the program now meets MPP’s definition of an effective medical cannabis law. Make sure you’re signed up for our email updates so you don’t miss out on opportunities to speak out for compassionate cannabis policy.

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