Medical Cannabis Patient Registry

OCGA §31-2A-18 authorizes patients with qualifying health conditions and their caregivers* to legally possess up to 12,000 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or medical cannabis.

The law allows fully licensed physicians, with a principal place of practice in Georgia, to certify and manage patients who have a qualifying condition to obtain medical cannabis. Physician certification is the only way patients can legally access medical cannabis in the state.

The law also authorizes the Georgia Department of Public Health to establish a Medical Cannabis Patient Registry and issue medical cannabis cards to certified patients and caregivers. The card is proof that they are authorized to possess the medical cannabis.

*Caregiver definition:

A parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a patient who is less than 18 years of age with a qualifying condition
An adult, who is designated by a patient with a qualifying condition, as being an individual authorized to assist them with purchasing, possessing, and administering medical cannabis or products for the patient's use
A health care institution as defined in OCGA § 51-1-29.5, where a patient is receiving health or medical care for a qualifying condition, and if the institution agrees to allow the patient to possess and use medical cannabis on its premises.

Qualifying conditions for a Medical Cannabis card

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Alzheimer's disease
Autism spectrum disorder, when such disorder is diagnosed for a patient who is at least 18 years of age, or severe autism, when diagnosed for a patient who is less than 18 years of age
Any cancer except skin cancer, unless it is metastatic skin cancer
Epidermolysis bullosa
Patient is in hospice program, either as inpatient or outpatient
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), when such disease is diagnosed as stage III
Inflammatory bowel disease
Intractable pain
Lupus
Mitochondrial disease
Multiple sclerosis
Parkinson's disease
Peripheral neuropathy, when such symptoms are diagnosed as severe
Post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from direct exposure to or the witnessing of a trauma for a patient who is at least 18 years of age
Seizure disorders related to a diagnosis of epilepsy or trauma-related head injuries
Sickle cell disease
Tourette's syndrome

Check Card Status

Link to check the Low THC Oil card status

Check status

Click the link below for information most relevant to you:
Information for Physicians
Information for Patients and Caregivers
Information for Law Enforcement

General FAQs

What is Medical Cannabis?

According to the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, medical cannabis means “any plant within the genus Cannabis and any part of such plant, including all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not that contains tetrahydrocannabinol, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, or a combination thereof.”
Who qualifies for a Medical Cannabis Card?
- A patient who is at least 18 years of age, has one or more qualifying conditions, and is a Georgia resident
- A parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a patient who is less than 18 years of age with a qualifying condition
- An adult, who is designated by a patient with a qualifying condition, as being an individual authorized to assist them with purchasing, possessing, and administering medical cannabis or products for the patient's use
- A health care institution as defined in OCGA § 51-1-29.5, where a patient is receiving health or medical care for a qualifying condition, and if the institution agrees to allow the patient to possess and use medical cannabis on its premises.
Note: Only physician-certified patients and caregivers with an active Medical Cannabis card are legally allowed to possess medical cannabis
What conditions are covered by the law?
The following conditions qualify patients for the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Alzheimer's disease
- Autism spectrum disorder, when such disorder is diagnosed for a patient who is at least 18 years of age, or severe autism, when diagnosed for a patient who is less than 18 years of age
- Any cancer except skin cancer, unless it is metastatic skin cancer
- Epidermolysis bullosa
- Patient is in hospice program, either as inpatient or outpatient
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), when such disease is diagnosed as stage III
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Intractable pain
- Lupus
- Mitochondrial disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson's disease
- Peripheral neuropathy, when such symptoms are diagnosed as severe
- Post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from direct exposure to or the witnessing of a trauma for a patient who is at least 18 years of age
- Seizure disorders related to a diagnosis of epilepsy or trauma-related head injuries
- Sickle cell disease
- Tourette's syndrome
What is Georgia’s Medical Cannabis Patient Registry?

The Medical Cannabis Patient Registry allows physicians fully licensed to practice in Georgia, and whose principal place of practice is located in the state, to certify and manage patients who have a qualifying condition to obtain medical cannabis legally. Annual physician certification is the only way patients can access medical cannabis in the state.
Is marijuana now legal?

No, marijuana is not legal in Georgia. Patients or their caregivers in the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry are allowed to legally possess up to 12,000 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or medical cannabis.
It does not make the sale or possession of all types of marijuana legal in Georgia. Possession of any form of marijuana by an unauthorized person is a violation of state and federal law.