The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kemp open to expansion of medical marijuana law
Current measure allows in-state cultivation, sale.
Gov. Brian Kemp sounded receptive to a measure moving through the Georgia Legislature that would allow marijuana to be grown and sold as an oil for medicinal purposes to registered patients.
The Republican told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution he was impressed by the “strong vote” earlier this month in the House for the measure, which would allow 60 dispensaries to serve the state’s rising number of medical marijuana patients. House Bill 324 was approved by a 12340 vote.
“When it passes with a constitutional majority,” Kemp quipped, referring to the two-thirds support behind the bill, “it might not matter what I think.”
Georgia has allowed patients suffering from severe seizures and other illnesses to use medical marijuana oil since 2015. But because the state doesn’t allow in-state cultivation, the roughly 8,400 people on the program’s registry risk defying federal law by transporting the drug across state lines.
Gov. Nathan Deal opposed legislation to allow the in-state cultivation of the drug, saying it should be up to Congress to change the law that makes it illegal to grow the drug and transport it across state lines. And Kemp initially took a similar stance.
But his position shifted during the GOP runoff for governor against Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, when he said he’d back “research-based expansion” with help from experts. Kemp, during the interview, said that’s still how he’ll vet the legislation if it moves through the Senate.
“I need to learn more about the bill, see what the Senate has to say,” Kemp said. “And I’m trying to understand that we are probably putting people in violation of federal law.”
Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, the president of the Senate, sharpened his position, too.
Like Kemp, Duncan said he is “vehemently opposed to anything that puts us on a path toward recreation marijuana.” But he said he was willing to accept an expansion with tight controls.
“I never want to put the individuals and families that we are helping in the difficult position of being at odds with federal law. We have to get this right,” he said. “In-state cultivation needs to be narrow in scope with controls in place that limit access to patients with approved medical needs.”