ATLANTA (AP) — Two years after Georgia legalized medical marijuana, lawmakers are opening the popular program to more patients.
The House approved a bill Tuesday that would add six new diagnoses to the list of qualifying conditions for medical cannabis oil, including autism, AIDS, Tourette’s syndrome, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Additionally, anyone in a hospice program, regardless of diagnosis, will be allowed access to marijuana oil that’s low on THC, the chemical responsible for the marijuana high.
The final bill was a compromise. The Senate wanted to lower THC levels in the cannabis oil while the House wanted a greater expansion with more qualifying conditions.
The bill will have to pass the Senate before moving to the governor who has signaled his approval of the limited program expansion.