Seven marijuana-related proposals up for consideration in 2016 General Assembly

ATLANTA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – State Representative Allen Peake isn’t the only one pushing legislation about marijuana through this General Assembly. Georgia lawmakers have seven proposals to consider this session. Only a few center around using the drug for medicinal purposes.

House Bill 722, sponsored by Peake, includes a model for growing marijuana in Georgia and adds to the list of medical conditions that can use cannabis oil. The proposal is almost identical to Minnesota’s system. Peake said this structure is recognized as the most tightly regulated in the country. He wants to expand the law because those who qualify to use medical marijuana in Georgia have to get the drug elsewhere. It is illegal to transport marijuana over state lines. The House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee will hear from supporters for the legislation Monday at the capitol. Peake said the committee will then hear opposition Wednesday.

State Senator Curt Thompson wants to add conditions that can be treated by medical marijuana. Senate Bill 7 wants to repeal provisions relating to the use of marijuana for treatment of cancer and glaucoma. The bill went into the Senate Hopper February 10, 2015 and was assigned to the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. Thompson is also the sole sponsor of Senate Bill 198 which aims to provide the regulation and retail sale of marijuana. Senate Resolution 6 wants to amend the State Constitution to allow legalization and regulation of marijuana to persons 21 years of age or older for personal use. Both SB 198 and SR 6 have been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. If SR 6 passes, Georgians would get their say on the issue in the next general election.

Senate Bill 254 is sponsored by state Senator Harold Jones II. The bill was pre-filed December 29 and referred to the Senate Judiciary Non-Civil Committee January 12. SB 254 aims to charge people who are caught with marijuana for the first time with a misdemeanor instead of a felony.

State Representative Stephen Allison’s bill wants to let people who are caught with marijuana keep their driver’s license. House Bill 283 was filed February 9, 2015 and assigned to the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee.

House Bill 704 aims to cultivate industrial hemp in Georgia. State Representative James Beverly is a co-sponsor of state Representative John Pezold’s proposal. It was filed April 2, 2015, had its second read in the House January 12 and was assigned to the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. The bill defines industrial hemp as the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of such plant, whether growing or not, with a delta tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.