Recently, the state legislature of Georgia was proposed a project on the legalization of cannabis for therapeutic use, which also includes provisions on the possibility of producing plants at home. Since 2015, there is a limited distribution program for plant extracts in the state; however, it serves an extremely narrow circle of chronically ill people, while giving them access only to oils with the minimum allowable concentration of THC. In addition, the old law does not include any provisions on the legalization of the production, processing and marketing of therapeutic cannabis plants; therefore, technically, citizens still have to use an illegally imported product for self-treatment.
“Although the oils are legal for use, they cannot be legally purchased anywhere within the state of Georgia,” says the main sponsor of the new project, the Republican deputy, Mick Graveley , about the existing rules . “Despite the fact that the practice has already proved that cannabis extracts containing a mixture of THC and CBD can be quite safely and effectively used in the treatment of pediatric epilepsy, neurodegenerative diseases, as well as in combating the symptoms of cancer and autism, from the point of view of the law, the type of product is a “dangerous drug”.
Although no one can guarantee the success of the new bill, it is worth noting that the representatives of both parties paid their attention to it. In addition, the governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, promised the public to sign the project without delay if he was on his table after being considered in parliament.
“I express support for activists who support the rational use of cannabis for medical purposes, and I also welcome the possibility of adopting a bill calling for the creation of a regulated market for therapeutic marijuana in Georgia,” Kemp said at the end of last month in an interview on regional radio. “Judging by the data with which I happened to get acquainted, cannabis is indeed an effective and versatile medicine, the use and further study of which we must strongly support.”
Of course, in response to such statements from the leadership of the region, opponents of reform in the region have intensified and are preparing a campaign to oppose the possible expansion of the medical system. In particular, the US Parents Prohibition Organization against the Legalization of Marijuana, led by a native of Atlanta, Sue Rusch, has already opposed the possibility of developing the local cannabis industry, suggesting that any form of reform will lead the state to destruction and indiscriminate addiction.
“Legalizing even a limited form of hemp production will soon lead to a complete legalization of the distribution of this drug,” Miss Rush told reporters personally.
“Pay attention: Every region that allowed limited legalization of cannabis, as a result, came to the full legalization of the plant and the general growth of a large hemp business.”
Faith Holloway, representing the Union for the Defense of Freedom and Faith, which also opposed the possibility of reform, voiced a more moderate stance on the expansion of the medical market. “Although with due attention to detail, we can minimize the leakage of legal cannabis to the gray market, we should not forget that the sale of marijuana is a profitable business that can attract the lobby in support of further reforms,” she said . “Therefore, we should first of all think about educating citizens about the possible risks of using the plant, and not about fighting direct reform.”
Some nuances of the project:
Of course, it should be noted that the new project also includes several extremely controversial provisions. For example, the bill proposes to organize in the state only 10 plantations for the production of plants, while only 5 of the available licenses will allow the maintenance of a large field for crops, while the remaining permits will be issued to small firms and people involved in the extraction of hemp. In addition, both types of licenses will cost companies around 50-150 thousand dollars, depending on the size of the cultivated area and this is without taking into account the non-refundable contribution of 50 thousand to participate in the certification process. These factors indicate that the new market will operate in a mode of scarce supply in the face of an ever-increasing number of consumers, while offering them goods at a markedly inflated price,
Simply put, there is a very real possibility that such a “new” market system, if successfully adopted, will quickly begin to slip and fail for its own purposes, like an existing market created according to the 2015 plan.