Low THC Oil Registry

The law lists the following conditions and diseases which qualify for the Low THC Oil Registry:

• Cancer, when such diagnosis is end stage or the treatment produces related wasting illness or recalcitrant nausea and vomiting
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, when such diagnosis is severe or end stage
• Seizure disorders related to diagnosis of epilepsy or trauma related head injuries
• Multiple sclerosis, when such diagnosis is severe or end stage
• Crohn’s disease
• Mitochondrial disease
• Parkinson’s disease, when such diagnosis is severe or end stage
• Sickle cell disease, when such diagnosis is severe or end stage
• Tourette’s syndrome, when such syndrome is diagnosed as severe
• Autism spectrum disorder, when (a) patient is 18 years of age or more, or (b) patient is less than 18 years of age and diagnosed with severe autism
• Epidermolysis bullosa
• Alzheimer’s disease, when such disease is severe or end stage
• AIDS when such syndrome is severe or end stage
• Peripheral neuropathy, when symptoms are severe or end stage
• Patient is in hospice program, either as inpatient or outpatient
• Intractable pain
• Post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from direct exposure to or witnessing of a trauma for a patient who is at least 18 years of age

What Citizens Need to Know about Georgia’s Medical Marijuana Law 

What does the law do? 

Georgia’s medical marijuana law allows certain qualified persons to legally possess up to 20 fluid ounces of “low THC oil,” which is derived from the marijuana plant. It authorizes the Georgia Department of Public Health to issue a “Low THC Oil Registry Card” to qualified persons, which will prove that they are authorized to have the oil and protect them from arrest. 

Where can I buy Low THC oil? 

Under House Bill 324, the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission (www.gmcc.ga.gov) which is administratively assigned to the Secretary of State’s Office, will oversee the growing, manufacturing, and dispensing of low THC oil in Georgia. The Georgia Department of Public Health does not prescribe or dispense low THC oil.

Who is eligible for the “Low THC Oil Registry Card”? 

There are three categories of persons who may apply for the card: 

1. an adult who has one or more of the diseases specified in the law; 
2. legal guardians of an adult who has one or more of the diseases specified in the law; 
3. parents or legal guardians of a minor child with one or more of the diseases specified in the law. 

What conditions or diseases are covered by the law? 

The law lists the following conditions and diseases which qualify for the Low THC Oil Registry: 

• Cancer, when such diagnosis is end stage or the treatment produces related wasting illness or recalcitrant nausea and vomiting 
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, when such diagnosis is severe or end-stage 
• Seizure disorders related to the diagnosis of epilepsy or trauma related head injuries 
• Multiple sclerosis, when such diagnosis is severe or end-stage 
• Crohn’s disease 
• Mitochondrial disease 
• Parkinson’s disease, when such diagnosis is severe or end-stage 
• Sickle cell disease, when such diagnosis is severe or end-stage 
• Tourette’s syndrome, when such syndrome is diagnosed as severe 
• Autism spectrum disorder, when (a) patient is 18 years of age or more, or (b) patient is less than 18 years of age and diagnosed with severe autism 
• Epidermolysis bullosa 
• Alzheimer’s disease, when such disease is severe or end-stage 
• AIDS when such syndrome is severe or end-stage 
• Peripheral neuropathy, when symptoms are severe or end-stage 
• Patient is in hospice program, either as inpatient or outpatient 
• Intractable pain
• Post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from direct exposure to or witnessing of a trauma for a patient who is at least 18 years of age.

What if more than one person is caring for the child or adult? 

If there is more than one parent or legal guardian, each may apply for a separate card. 

How do I apply for the Low THC Registry Card? 

An individual’s physician submits the application. That physician should be the one who is treating the patient for the qualifying condition. The physician must complete two documents as part of the process. First, there is a waiver form that both the applicant and the physician must sign. Second, there is a physician certification form. The physician will keep the original waiver and certification form in the patient’s medical records. As the patient, you may request a copy for your records. The physician will electronically submit specific information from these forms to the Georgia Department of Public Health. The Low THC Oil unit will review and verify the details. Once the process is complete, the Unit will create a Low THC Oil Registry Card for qualified applicants. 

Where will I get my Low THC Registry Card?  Will it be mailed to me? 

Once Low THC Oil cards are printed, they will be sent to a county health department, convenient to the cardholder, for pick up. A low THC oil service representative will contact cardholders to let them know the card is at the health department ready to be picked up. Cardholders must provide valid identification, a driver’s license or a state issued ID, in order to pick up their card. 

Can I authorize an individual (who is not listed a caregiver) to pick up a patients Low THC Oil card?

A patient may authorize an individual to pick up the patient’s Low THC Oil card from the county health department on their behalf with a signed   authorization form .

Which Local Public Health Offices distribute Low THC Oil Cards to qualified patients?

• Carroll County Health Department
• Catoosa County Health Department
• Chatham County Health Department
• Cherokee County Health Department
• Clarke County Health Department
• Clayton County Health Department
• Cobb County Health Department
• Colquitt County Health Department
• Decatur County Health Department
• DeKalb County Health Department
• Douglas County Health Department
• Fannin County Health Department
• Fayette County Health Department
• Floyd County Health Department
• Forsyth County Health Department
• Franklin County Health Department
• Fulton County Health Department 
• Glynn County Health Department
• Gordon County Health Department
• Gwinnett County Health Department
• Hall County Health Department
• Henry County Health Department
• Houston County Health Department
• Laurens County Health Department
• Lowndes County Health Department
• Macon-Bibb County Health Department
• Morgan County Health Department
• Muscogee County Health Department
• Richmond County Health Department
• Rockdale County Health Department
• Stephens County Health Department
• Sumter County Health Department
• Tift County Health Department
• Troup County Health Department
• Turner County Health Department
• Walton County Health Department
• Ware County Health Department
• Whitfield County Health Department

How much does the Low THC Oil card cost? How do I pay for it? 

The fee for a Low THC Registry Card is $25. Cardholders must pay for their card when they pick it up.

How long is the card valid? 

The Low THC Oil Card will be valid for two years from the date it is issued. The expiration date will be printed on the front of the card. After that time, an individual will need to consult again with their physician and request that they update and confirm information within the registry. Please plan to allow 15 business days to process your information, print your card, and have it ready for pick-up from the closest of the 18 Public Health Offices approved to distribute the Low THC Oil Cards.

What happens if I lose my card? 

If you lose your card, please get in touch with the Low THC Oil Unit by email ([email protected]) or by calling (770) 909-2765. If your card has not expired, your physician will be contacted to confirm you are still under their care. Once confirmed, a replacement card will be provided to you. Please plan to allow 15 business days to process your information, print your card, and have it ready for pick-up at a preselected Public Health Office. Replacement cards will cost $25. 

The information on my card is wrong or outdated. How do I correct it? 

If the information on your card is wrong or outdated, please email the updated correction(s) to [email protected]. The Low THC Oil Registry staff will review your email and will compare the information to what has been submitted by your physician on your documents. If the information submitted by your physician is incorrect, you must contact your physician and ask that the office update the information in the registry. Once completed, a new card will be issued to an agreed-upon health department. 

Is marijuana now legal? Where can I buy it? 

No. The law only authorizes the legal possession of up to 20 fluid ounces of low THC oil by qualified persons. 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 and remains a violation of state and federal law. 

My employer tests for drug use, including cannabis. Can they test me if I am a medical cannabis patient? Can they fire me if I use medical cannabis?

​Georgia law does not prevent an employer from testing for the use of cannabis (for any reason) or taking action against an employee who tests positive for the use of cannabis (for any reason).​

What Doctors Need to Know about Georgia’s Medical Marijuana Law

What does the law do?

Georgia’s medical marijuana law allows certain qualified persons to legally possess up to 20 fluid ounces of “Low THC oil,” which is derived from the marijuana plant. It authorizes the Georgia Department of Public Health to issue a “Low THC Oil Registry Card” to qualified persons, which will prove that they are authorized to have the oil and protect them from arrest.

Who is eligible for the “Low THC Oil Registry Card”?

There are three categories of persons who may apply for the card:

1. an adult who has one or more of the diseases specified in the law;
2. legal guardians of an adult who has one or more of the diseases specified in the law;
3. parents or legal guardians of a minor child who has one or more of the diseases specified in the law.

What conditions or diseases are covered by the law?

The law lists the following conditions and diseases which qualify for the Low THC Oil Registry:

• Cancer, when such diagnosis is end stage or the treatment produces related wasting illness or recalcitrant nausea and vomiting
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, when such diagnosis is severe or end stage
• Seizure disorders related to diagnosis of epilepsy or trauma related head injuries
• Multiple sclerosis, when such diagnosis is severe or end stage
• Crohn’s disease
• Mitochondrial disease
• Parkinson’s disease, when such diagnosis is severe or end stage
• Sickle cell disease, when such diagnosis is severe or end stage
• Tourette’s syndrome, when such syndrome is diagnosed as severe
• Autism spectrum disorder, when (a) patient is 18 years of age or more, or (b) patient is less than 18 years of age and diagnosed with severe autism
• Epidermolysis bullosa
• Alzheimer’s disease, when such disease is severe or end stage
• AIDS when such syndrome is severe or end stage
• Peripheral neuropathy, when symptoms are severe or end stage
• Patient is in hospice program, either as inpatient or outpatient
• Intractable pain
• Post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from direct exposure to or witnessing of a trauma for a patient who is at least 18 years of age

How can I help someone obtain a Low THC Oil Registry Card?

First, you must have a doctor-patient relationship with someone that you determine to have one or more of the diseases specified in the law. Next, you will need to fill out a waiver form and certification form and have the patient, parent or legal guardian countersign. Patients or caregivers may bring you partially filled out documents or you may choose to provide them with blank forms. Keep the original waiver form for your files. Finally, you or your staff will enter the information on the certification form into the Georgia Low THC Oil Registry portal. You may choose to retain a hardcopy of the certification form if you wish, but all of the information will be maintained in the online registry and that is considered to be the official record. 

The waiver and certification form will need to be completed by an individual’s physician. The contents of the Low THC Oil Certification Form will need to be put into the Low THC Oil Registry.

•   Low THC Oil Waiver  
•   Department of Public Health Low THC Oil Physician Certification Information  

Am I required to certify an eligible patient?

No. The decision to certify if a patient is eligible for the Low THC Oil Registry is left entirely to your judgment. The bill does not authorize physicians to prescribe marijuana for medical use. You are merely asked to determine whether the patient meets the law’s criteria to use low THC oil.

Will I be prosecuted by Georgia or federal law enforcement for registering patients?

No. The registration process has been established by Georgia law and it does not violate any state or federal laws.

Will I lose my medical license for registering patients?

No. In fact, the Georgia Code 16-12-231 provides protection from arrest, prosecution, or disciplinary action from professional licensing boards for physicians who certify patients to the Low THC Oil Registry. 

Is my registering a patient the equivalent of writing them a prescription for low THC oil?

No. The act of registering a patient is merely a certification that you have an established relationship with the patient, have examined them, and determined they have one or more of the medical conditions set forth in the law. In fact, the certification form approved by the Georgia Composite Medical Board specifically states that it is not a prescription.

 

What Law Enforcement Needs to Know about Georgia’s Medical Marijuana Law

What does the law do?

Georgia’s new medical marijuana law allows certain qualified persons to legally possess up to 20 fluid ounces of “low THC oil,” which is derived from the marijuana plant. It authorizes the Georgia Department of Public Health to issue a “Georgia Low THC Oil Registry Card” to qualified persons, which will prove that they are authorized to have the oil in their possession.

How does the law compare to laws in other states which have adopted medical marijuana?

Georgia’s law is much more limited than some other states’ medical marijuana laws. For example, it does not legalize the sale or possession of marijuana in leaf form. It does not authorize the production or sale of food products infused with low THC oil or the ingestion of low THC oil through vapor. It does not authorize physicians to prescribe marijuana for medical use. It is intended solely to protect qualified persons from criminal prosecution for possessing low THC oil for medicinal purposes.

Who is allowed to obtain a Georgia Low THC Oil Registry Card?

There are three categories of persons who may apply for the card:

1. an adult who has one or more of the diseases specified in the law; 
2. legal guardians of an adult who has one or more of the diseases specified in the law; 
3. parents or legal guardians of a minor child who has one or more of the diseases specified in the new law.

A doctor's certification is required. 

What do I do if a card is expired?

Cards will be valid for two years from the date they are issued. The expiration date can be found on the front of the card. If you believe a card has expired, please call 1-866-PUB-HLTH to verify the card is no longer valid.

What does low THC oil look like?

Low THC oil packaging may vary in appearance. However, the law requires that the low THC oil be “in a pharmaceutical container labeled by the manufacturer indicating the percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol therein,” be less than 5 percent tetrahydrocannabinol by weight, and that the amount of oil in the container – or containers – not exceed 20 fluid ounces total.

Does the law allow Georgians to possess other forms of marijuana?

No. The law does not legalize the possession of any types of marijuana in Georgia except 20 fluid ounces of low THC oil for persons with a valid Georgia Low THC Registry Card. Under House Bill 324, businesses licensed by the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission may grow marijuana for the purposes of manufacturing low THC oil and dispensing of low THC oil in Georgia. Possession of any other form of marijuana by anyone not authorized to possess it remains a violation of state and federal law.

Does the law authorize the sale of low THC oil in Georgia?

Under House Bill 324, the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission, which is administratively assigned to the Secretary of State’s Office, will oversee the growing, manufacturing, and dispensing of low THC oil in Georgia. The Georgia Department of Public Health does not prescribe or dispense low THC oil.