On Saturday, July 24th, 2021, the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission (the “Commission”) released its notice of intent to award production licenses to six companies following a lengthy competitive application process. The application period closed in January 2021 and the Commission received nearly 70 applications for licenses. The Commission intends to award two Class 1 licenses and four Class 2 production licenses. The attorneys at Chilivis Grubman are proud to represent Trulieve GA Inc., the intended recipient of a Class 1 production license.
The Commission operates under the authority of the Georgia’s Hope Act (O.C.G.A. §16-12-200 et seq.), which was signed into law in April 2019 and legalizes limited in-state production, manufacturing, and sale of low-THC (less than 5%) cannabis oil for medical use. The Georgia’s Hope Act authorizes the Commission to grant licenses to six private growers and two designated universities. Two Class 1 license recipients will be permitted to use up to 100,000 square feet for indoor cultivation and production and four Class 2 licensees may use up to 50,000 square feet of indoor space.
Since 2015, registered patients in Georgia have been able to possess and ingest low-THC cannabis oil if they have at least one of seventeen listed ailments (listed here). However, access to low-THC cannabis oil in Georgia has been limited as the manufacture, production and distribution of low-THC cannabis oil has been prohibited. According the one report, there are about “about 15,000 patients who have been authorized [by the State] to use medical marijuana oil since 2015 but weren’t permitted to buy it.” The Commission’s announcement of its notice of intent to award licenses is seen as a promising step forward for registered patients’ access to low-THC cannabis oil in Georgia.
The attorneys at Chilivis Grubman represent clients of all types and sizes in connection with government contract and procurement matters. If you need assistance with such a matter, please contact us today.