People living in Atlanta and other locations throughout Georgia are likely wondering if CBD oil is legal to use and sell in the state. I’m going to come right out and tell you…
Yes – CBD oil is legal in Georgia.
Furthermore, the state has been working on a program allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes, which is now limited to High CBD/Low THC strains and is only applicable for people with severe medical conditions. There are lots of benefits of using this stuff too.
As of writing this text, the use of marijuana for recreational use is strictly prohibited in Georgia, meaning that the state does not get a share of this very lucrative market which is expected to rise to amazing $146 billion by 2025.
CBD Oil in Georgia, The Peach State
Georgia passed a law in 2015 called Haleigh’s Hope Act that allows the legal use of CBD products. According to the law, it is legal for people to use low THC oil under certain circumstances, and this oil should contain less than 5% THC.
This law comes with some stipulations, like the need for the user to be registered with the Department of Public Health and more. Below you will learn about the basics of CBD and more about the legalities of CBD in Georgia.
The CBD Essentials
CBD is becoming more popular than ever, with a growing number of people turning to CBD to get relief for many health conditions. It is derived from industrial hemp, a crop that has more useful applications than any other plant on the planet. Industrial hemp is used for paper production, fiber, textile, animal feed, building material and more, and is one of the fastest-growing renewable sources of fuel.
CBD has many beneficial effects on the health of the humans, as it helps in pain management, helps relieve symptoms of anxiety and stress, and relieves nausea, PTSD, inflammation and more. There are many strains of cannabis, with most of them producing a high THC content, but few of these have a high CBD and low THC content. These are favored among medical marijuana users, because of their helpful properties.
Two very famous strains that have good effects on many health issues are MediHaze and Hawaiian Dream.
- MediHaze is a blend between two very famous strains and an undisclosed CBD-rich strain, having a 1:2 THC vs. CBD ratio. Once lit, MediHaze gives smooth smoke that smells of pines and spices, with a slightly earthy undertone, providing a relaxed, happy, energetic feel, with excellent pain managing properties, such as an immediate stop to severe headaches, and relieving the symptoms of stress and inflammation.
- Hawaiian Dream is an exotic-sounding name for this CBD-rich strain. Being the product of Blue Dream and Hawaiian strains, it produces two times more CBD than THC, making it ideal for managing severe pain, muscle spasms, stress and anxiety, and inflammation. It smells of sweetness, pineapples, and a tropical Island, and does not put the body on lockdown, as it has uplifting, energizing effects.
Georgian CBD Laws
The use of CBD products in Georgia is sanctioned first with the Haleigh’s Hope Act in 2015, and later with the House Bill 465 in 2017. The first one allowed the use of CBD products by patients with severe medical conditions, and the second one allows the creation of an Industrial Hemp Commission and a research program with the state universities related to the cultivation of industrial hemp for research and commercial purposes.
The 2015 law stated that patients with severe medical problems can have up to 20 ounces of CBD oil, as long as it has less than 5% THC. Later, more medical conditions that could benefit from the use of CBD oil were added to the list. The market is expected to rise to about $16 billion by the year 2025. Still, Georgians only get limited use of CBD oil, and it was in April 2019, when the signing of the Georgia Hope Act has led to the expansion of the rules relating to CBD oil use in Georgia.
This law permits state-licensed producers to cultivate medical cannabis preparations which can be sold in pharmacies and authorized dispensaries. It is expected this law to be implemented in the following year, and we’ll all have to wait and see how it fares on the market.
Medical Marijuana
There is no law allowing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes in Georgia, but there is a law related to the use of CBD-specific marijuana products. To be eligible to use CBD oils, which can have less than 5% THC, the patients in Georgia need to be registered with the Georgia Department of Medical Cannabis. You also need to be diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition.
Some of the qualifying conditions are ALS, autism, cancer, seizures, PTSD, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Tourette’s syndrome, severe intractable pain, AIDS and patients that are in hospice care.
Recreational Use of Marijuana
The Peach State does not allow any kind of use of cannabis for recreational purposes. The state has strict laws related to the possession of marijuana, and less than an ounce can land you up to a year in prison and with a fine of about $1000, and anything more and you are facing a decade in the joint (pun intended).
Purchasing Options for CBD In GA
Since CBD oil and other CBD-based products are legal to use in Georgia, many retail stores carry such products. Still, these have a limited offer, as CBD use is still in the early stages in this southern state.
But because the 2014 Farm Bill has allowed the sales and use of CBD products on a federal level, Georgians can freely buy their CBD products directly from the online stores of CBD manufacturers. This way they can ascertain the credibility of the manufacturer, confirming the amount of CBD and THC in the product and have it delivered to their home, usually free of extra charge.
Conclusion
The use of CBD products was first legalized in the Empire State of the South in 2015, and as of 2017, anyone can use CBD oil, and the state plans of allowing the professional growing of hemp and production of CBD products. However, Georgians will have to wait some more to be able to enjoy weed freely.
