Georgia Medical Marijuana Sale Could Start By Spring As Distribution Of Controlled Substance Approved

The sale of medical marijuana in the state of Georgia could start as soon as spring after officials approved the rules for the distribution of the controlled substance.

The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission voted unanimously to approve the implementing rules for testing, inspections, and distribution of medical marijuana in the state.

The commission's approval would allow low-THC dispensaries to start selling the controlled substance by spring, Fox5 Atlanta reported.

While Georgia officials have not specifically provided when the distribution would officially begin, they have already laid out several locations where medical marijuana would be available to purchase.

Planned locations for medical cannabis distribution include Marietta, Newnan, and Macon.

Sid Johnson, the commission's chairman, hailed the approval, calling it a "milestone."

"It is a milestone in reaching the ultimate goal of providing quality products to our patients across this great state of Georgia who have waited a long time to get the medical relief they need," Johnson said, GPB reported. "We're very excited about getting these rules passed."

In September, the Georgia commission authorized Botanical Sciences and Trulieve Georgia to grow medical marijuana.

The two authorized companies would be able to produce medical marijuana oil on 100,000 square feet of indoor growing space.

The commission also allowed the companies to open five dispensaries each and serve registered patients.

The upcoming distribution of medical marijuana came after a new survey showed that the majority of Georgia residents called for the legalization of marijuana for adult use.

The poll, conducted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, revealed that about 53% of Georgians said marijuana should be legal for adults, higher than the previous poll in 2017, wherein 46% of the respondents supported the legal use of the substance.

The survey also showed that 23% of Georgians believe that the controlled substance should be used for medical purposes only, while 15% support its decriminalization.

About 7% of respondents said they do not support legalizing marijuana.

In October, President Joe Biden pardoned thousands of Americans with federal offenses for simple marijuana possession in a bid to overhaul the U.S.'s failed approach to marijuana.

Biden urged state governors to pardon individuals convicted with state laws penalizing simple marijuana possession.

The president also initiated a review of how marijuana is classified.

So far, 37 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized medical marijuana.