Medical Marijuana Bill Passes in the Senate

A proposed medical marijuana bill could be law by the end of the week.

On Tuesday, the Georgia Senate passed its version of a bill that passed overwhelmingly in the House.

The bill now goes back to the House for further tweaking and it is expected to pass there this week.

The Senate’s substitute bill was developed in the past few weeks by the upper chamber’s Health and Human Services Committee.

Under the Senate version, the bill allows a limit of 5 percent THC for treatment of seizure disorders, sickle cell anemia, cancer, Crohn’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), mitochondrial disease, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.

An amendment to add autism failed.

If it becomes law, patients would  be able to obtain up to 20 ounces of cannabis oil under strict supervision of their doctors and the state.

The substitute, which passed 48-6, could benefit up to 500,000 Georgians if signed into law, according to lawmakers.

Originally sponsored in the House  by Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon,  Peake said he is confident the House will quickly pass the substitute and that Gov. Nathan Deal could sign it into law, possibly by week’s end.

If it passes, Georgia would become the 37th state to have some sort of medical marijuana law.