Georgia regulators took steps last week to expedite hearings on medical cannabis licensing protests after legislation to revive the state’s stalled medical cannabis program died at the end of this year’s legislative session. The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission voted unanimously on May 5 to turn over the responsibility for hearing the protests to the Office of State Administrative Hearings (OSAH), according to a Capitol Beat report. Putting that task in the OSAH’s hands was a key provision in the legislation that the Georgia Legislature considered this year to address licensing snafus that have held up the launch of the state’s medical cannabis program. Georgia’s registered patients have been able to legally possess cannabis oil containing a maximum of 5% THC since 2015, but they have no way to legally purchase the oil, which has yet to be produced and sold in the state. Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation in 2019 to set up a regulatory framework for the production, processing, and sale of medical cannabis oil in Georgia, and the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission licensed six companies in July 2021 to serve the market. Sixteen unsuccessful applicants then challenged the licensing process, which has since stalled the rollout of the program.
Cannabis Business Times, 05/09/2022 15:44:00