Georgia’s Senate has passed a bill that would expand the qualifying conditions for medical cannabis use, while keeping the maximum allowable THC percentages in cannabis oil at 5 percent, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Under the measure patients diagnosed with AIDS, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, Tourette’s syndrome, epidermolysis bullosa – a rare genetic connective tissue defect – peripheral neuropathy, and those in hospice care would be allowed to access the program.
Last month, the Senate passed a bill adding autism to the qualifying condition list, but dropped the permissible THC content to 3 percent. That bill was moved to the House, who will not consider the measure in light of SB.16, which will move next to a House committee that is expected to take up the proposal next week.
Earlier this month, the House passed HB.65 which would further expand the program, although it’s unclear whether the Senate will consider the legislation with the passage of SB.16 – which includes several of same conditions as HB.65. According to the AJC report, SB.16 was passed after a “compromise,” so it’s possible some conditions were left out of the Senate measure, which in return, didn’t drop the allowable THC limits. HB.65 passed the house 156-6.