State Senate OKs Medical Marijuana Bill

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The Georgia Senate has approved a bill which would decriminalize medical marijuana in the State of Georgia.

According to WSB-TV, the Senate has come to agreement on HB 1, the so called “Haleigh’s Hope Act,” which would allow Georgians who are suffering from some chronic debilitating illnesses to possess cannabis oil without fear of arrest or prosecution.

HB 1 caused a firestorm in the Senate, especially among conservative members of the body, WSB-TV said. Legislators were able to come to a compromise, removing fibromyalgia from the list of conditions cleared for cannabis oil and placed tougher restrictions on the percentage of THC allowed in the oils.

Children and adults who suffer from Lou Gehrig’s Disease, cancer, Chron’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, sickle cell, mitochondrial disease, seizure disorders, and Parkinson’s Disease will all be eligible to possess medical cannabis oil should the bill become law.

Now that the amended version of HB 1 has cleared the Senate, it must return to the House of Representatives for another approval vote, a vote which WSB-TV suggests will likely come out in the bill’s favor. The bill will then go to the desk of Gov. Nathan Deal, who has stated that he supports measures meant to increase patients’ access to medical marijuana while preventing its recreational use.