Last updated : December 16, 2024
Some Georgia families may have medical marijuana as an option for treating children suffering from a specific medical condition, thanks to the passage of a bill allowing this limited use earlier this month.
Georgia state senators approved the legislation with a 54-1 vote. The senate approval hinged on a promise from the chairman of the upper chamber’s health committee that the measure would be merged with a more encompassing bill that had already gained approval from the House of Representatives.
The bill would remove the threat of prosecution for parents who transport a non-psychoactive marijuana derivative called cannabidiol into the state and use it to treat children with epilepsy. Unlike what is the case in other states that have passed similar medical marijuana legislation, this bill bars the use of medical marijuana in any other form. It also disallows the use of the drug to address a variety of other conditions that are included in the House bill, such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
Republican Senator Lindsey Tippins, who is also the lead sponsor of the bill, said that the treatment limitations are based on the fact that scientific evidence has not offered clear proof that medical marijuana use is a beneficial treatment for such a broad range of diseases. Tippins added that federal law remains foggy when it comes to whether or not American citizens who are in possession of medical marijuana can face prosecution at the federal level, despite the issuance of past federal executive orders that would allow for such an exemption.
“We have to move judiciously to avoid medical and legal ramifications we may not anticipate,” stated Tippins.
Democrat Senator Curt Thompson cast the lone dissenting vote. Thompson said he voted against the bill because of its relatively narrow scope, which he felt rendered the measure worthless.
“This bill is to declare victory and get out, to say you’ve done something when you haven’t,” said Thompson.
Thompson’s comments come on the heels of his introduction of two marijuana-related measures – a medical marijuana bill that has fewer limitations and a second bill that would make recreational marijuana use legal.
Initially, senators considered expanding Tippins’ medical marijuana bill by way of a floor amendment brought forth by senate democrats, but democrats later withdrew the proposal after hearing from Health and Human Services Committee Chairman Renee Unterman. Unterman promised to hold a hearing during the following week with the intention of merging the Senate bill with the more expansive House bill, which passed by a 158-2 vote at the end of February 2015. The House bill was sponsored by Republican Representative Allen Peake.
The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that as of March 2015, the use medical marijuana is permitted in 23 states, as well as in the District of Columbia and Guam. California became the first state to legalize marijuana for medical use in 1996, after voters there passed Proposition 215.
