Georgia is seeing a sharp rise in medical cannabis registrations after a new state law broadened eligibility and introduced significant changes to the program.
The legislation expanded the list of medical conditions that qualify for treatment, authorized vaping as a permitted method of use for certain patients, and revised the state’s limits on THC content, among several other updates.
Active registrations increased from roughly 34,000 at the beginning of June to over 41,400, representing an increase of almost 22%. Since July 1, enrollment has climbed from 36,703 patients, marking growth of nearly 13% in three weeks.
Medical cannabis businesses say demand rose immediately after the law came into force, with customers arriving well before opening time on July 1. Industry leaders expect the program to continue expanding and predict that the number of registered patients could triple by the middle of 2027 as more people become eligible.
Among the most significant changes is the addition of lupus to the list of qualifying medical conditions. Previously, eligibility covered illnesses including Parkinson’s disease, cancer, multiple sclerosis, ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic pain, autism spectrum disorder, and several other approved diagnoses. The law also removes the requirement that many conditions be classified as end-stage or severe before patients can participate.
The measure, introduced by Senator Matt Brass, also broadens the ways eligible adults may use medical cannabis. Patients aged 21 and older can now legally use vaporized products, while smoking remains prohibited. According to experts, inhaled cannabis products provide faster symptom relief as they take effect almost immediately, unlike oil-based alternatives that must pass through the digestive system and can require 30 minutes or longer before producing results.
In addition, the legislation replaces the previous 5% THC potency restriction with a possession limit allowing patients to hold up to 12,000 mg of THC.
When signing the bill in May, Gov. Brian Kemp said the reforms provide important benefits for patients without changing Georgia’s overall approach to cannabis policy. He reiterated his opposition to recreational legalization but acknowledged that medical cannabis can offer meaningful relief for people who might otherwise depend on stronger opioid medications.
The law further updates statutory language by replacing the term “low THC oil” with “medical marijuana” and assigns the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission responsibility for expanding public education efforts about the program, its approved products, and their potential benefits for eligible patients.
Legal marijuana companies like Cresco Labs Inc. (CSE: CL) (OTCQX: CRLBF) and others around the country will be glad the law in Georgia has allowed more patients to gain legal access to medicinal marijuana products.
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