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SB 220: What Changed for Georgia Medical Cannabis Patients on July 1, 2026

Georgia Senate Bill 220 was signed on May 12, 2026 and took effect July 1, 2026. Here is what changed in plain language, sourced from the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Georgia Senate Bill 220 was signed on May 12, 2026 and took effect on July 1, 2026. It is the largest change to the state program since it began.

The program and the card were renamed

The Low THC Oil Registry is now the Georgia Medical Cannabis Patient Registry. The card issued to registered patients is now called the Medical Cannabis Card rather than the Low THC Oil Registry Card. Cards issued under the old name remain valid until the expiration date printed on them, and law enforcement continues to recognize them.

Possession limits changed

The registry now allows registered patients to possess up to 12,000 mg of THC, with a limit of 1,200 mg per package. The previous cap of 5 percent THC by weight was eliminated. Smoking remains illegal in Georgia. Vaporization is permitted for adults 21 and older.

The conditions list changed

Severity qualifiers were removed from several conditions, including cancer, ALS, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, sickle cell disease and Tourette's syndrome. Crohn's disease was replaced by the broader category of inflammatory bowel disease, and lupus was added. The Department of Public Health publishes 18 qualifying conditions.

What did not change

Marijuana is not legal in Georgia. The registry permits registered patients to possess medical cannabis products as state law allows, and nothing more. A physician certification is not a prescription, and no physician can promise any outcome. Proof of a qualifying diagnosis is still required, and the certification is renewed annually even though the card itself is valid for five years.

For the official program information, see the Georgia Department of Public Health at dph.georgia.gov/health-topics/medical-cannabis.

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Proof of a qualifying diagnosis is required. Certification is a clinical decision by the physician, and no outcome is promised. Certification is not a prescription.

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