State Representative Micah Gravley (R-Douglasville) and State Senator Matt Brass (R-Newnan), co-chairs of the Joint Study Commission on Low THC Medical Oil Access, said today’s meeting of the commission has been cancelled. The meeting, which would have been the fourth held by the commission, was previously scheduled to be held in Savannah. Initially, five meetings were scheduled.
Rep. Gravley and Sen. Brass released the following joint statement:
“We are confident that the fantastic testimony obtained during previous commission hearings will help us shape a productive in-state model for the expanded distribution of low THC Medical Cannabis oil. As we have stated prior to each hearing, this study commission was created for one purpose and one purpose only – to review cultivation and expansion models from our sister states which have already passed low THC oil legislation.
“Over the past four years, previous study committees have heard testimony from medical doctors both for and against the use of medical cannabis oil. The testimony and data presented during these hearings is readily available in the House and Senate archives. Therefore, after meeting with members of the committee, and in an effort to save on expenses, we will be cancelling the commission’s Savannah meeting. We are confident that our findings will result in upholding our purpose, to determine the best avenue and infrastructure to provide low THC Medical Cannabis oil to the nearly 5,000 Georgians legally allowed to possess the oil.”
Established by House Bill 65, the Joint Study Commission on Low THC Medical Oil Access will examine in-state access to medical cannabis and low THC oil, including the security and control of the process from acquisition and planting of seeds to final destruction of unused portions of the plant; quality control of the manufacturing process; and dispensing the final product.
The commission will also explore and identify ways to ensure proper security safeguards and systems for evaluating the qualifications of potential licensees, as well as implement a plan to ensure that low THC oil is affordable and readily available statewide to properly registered patients and caregivers.
The initial meeting was held in Atlanta, and Gravley and Brass allowed it to go over the allotted time. At that meeting, the committee heard testimony from more than 20 patients, parents and organization representatives on both sides of the debate.
“I felt like that meeting, like the other two, were very productive and very informative,” said Gravley. “We heard a lot of testimony from both sides — some of it was extremely powerful. Overall, it was a good meeting and a great show in civility.”
