Historic Milestone: Georgia Becomes First State to Allow Medical Cannabis Sales in Hundreds of Pharmacies

Nov 3, 2023 | Education, News

In a groundbreaking development, the Georgia Board of Pharmacy has opened its doors to applications from nearly 120 pharmacies looking to provide medical marijuana products. This historic move makes Georgia the first state in the nation to permit the sale of low-dose cannabis within independent drug stores.

The implementation of the pharmacy rule, which extends medical marijuana sales to drug stores, promises to significantly enhance patient access. Up until now, the state has been served by only seven dispensaries, leaving patients with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, seizures, terminal cancers, and PTSD with limited options.

The exclusive suppliers for these pharmacies will be the state’s only two licensed cannabis producers: Botanical Sciences LLC and Trulieve Cannabis Corp. These two companies were the first to receive approval earlier this year to cater to registered medical cannabis patients in Georgia.

Gary Long, CEO of Botanical Sciences, expressed his enthusiasm for this development, stating, “Pharmacists have been fielding questions from patients for years without ever having the ability to do anything about it. Finally, they have the ability not just to give people advice but provide them with the therapies they’ve been seeking.”

Georgia boasts more than 400 independent pharmacies, and the majority of them are expected to participate in this program. National chains such as CVS and Walgreens are the notable exceptions, as confirmed by Cecil Cordle, a member of the Georgia Board of Pharmacy.

This initiative is poised to bring convenience to the lives of Georgians, with approximately 90 percent of the state’s population residing within a 30-minute drive of a pharmacy offering medical marijuana products, according to reports.

Andrew Turnage, executive director for the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission, hailed the pharmacy rule as “definitely big news” and emphasized its benefits for both licensees and, most importantly, patients. He remarked, “It will put access in virtually every county in the state.”

Addressing the number of medical marijuana patients in Georgia, a recent revelation by the Georgia Department of Public Health stirred up some controversy. It was disclosed that the department had miscounted and overstated the count of registered medical marijuana patients. The accurate figure currently stands at just 14,000 active patients and caregivers, a far cry from the previously reported 50,000.

Source: Benzinga

EXPLORE MORE NEWS

Major Corporations Investing in Cannabis

by | May 4, 2023 | News | 0 Comments

As cannabis legalization continues to spread across the country, major corporations are increasingly taking notice and investing in the industry. In April of 2023, a major beverage company announced a $100 million investment in a cannabis-infused drink startup, signaling the growing trend of large corporations entering the cannabis space.

State-Level Tax Relief Provides Welcome Respite for U.S. Cannabis Industry

by | July 5, 2023 | News | 0 Comments

The U.S. cannabis industry is finally experiencing some much-needed tax relief as an increasing number of states pass laws to exempt businesses from Section 280E of the federal tax code. With 20 states having implemented these exemptions, cannabis operators are beginning to see a glimmer of hope amidst the burdensome tax landscape.

Republican Resistance Blocks Medical Cannabis Legalization Push in North Carolina

by | July 18, 2023 | News | 0 Comments

Republican resistance has effectively halted the push for medical cannabis legalization in North Carolina. State House Speaker Tim Moore believes that the opposition from Republican lawmakers has doomed the prospects of passing the Compassionate Care Act in 2023. Despite the state Senate’s approval of the bill, which aimed to provide access to smokable flower for patients with 15 qualifying medical conditions in a tightly regulated market, the House took no further action beyond a committee hearing.

Revolutionary Shift: US Health Department Proposes Reclassifying Marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III

by | September 1, 2023 | News | 0 Comments

In a groundbreaking move that has the potential to reshape the landscape of cannabis regulations, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken a bold step by formally recommending the reclassification of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under federal law. This historic decision signifies a seismic shift in perspective, indicating that the nation’s premier health agency no longer views cannabis as a substance with high abuse potential and zero medical value.

Newsletter