A Joint House and Senate Study Commission on Low THC Medical Oil Access continued their hearings Wednesday as lawmakers returned to the State Capitol for a special session of the General Assembly. Testimony included a plea by a representative of the Veterans for Cannabis to allow in-state cultivation.
The committee, co-chaired by State Representative Micah Gravley (R-Douglasville) and State Senator Matt Brass (R-Newnan) cancelled what would have been their fourth meeting recently. However, they took advantage of the Special Session to hold another meeting before making their final recommendations.
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.
A spokesman for the VFC, pushing for in-state cultivation, stated that “without in-state cultivation, veterans are dying. Make an investment in us, bring cultivation home.” He also asked the committee to ensure that veterans receive 25 percent of the licenses to cultivate in Georgia. ”We can give veterans jobs.”
Sen. Brass reminded those in attendance that the committee will not make decisions — but will gather information and compile a report and make recommendations.
Comments by a few of the speakers sparked remarks by the committee’s other chair, Rep. Gravley, regarding recreational use of marijuana.
“I want to make it clear that I do not support recreational use,” said Gravley. “I have always advocated for THC oil — only. I do believe the oil is truly helping people, and I am interested in looking at how we can put a model in place that allow those in need of the oil for medical uses to get the oil they are allowed to have. We have over 6,000 people in the state who have registered to use the oil legally.”
