The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission has approved a sweeping package of regulatory changes, including new rules establishing a framework for medical marijuana delivery and cannabis research in the state.
The commission voted Wednesday to adopt amendments spanning Rule Chapters 351-1 through 351-8, along with three new provisions covering delivery, product recalls and research.
Among the most significant changes is Rule 351-6-.11, which creates a regulatory framework for delivering medical cannabis products to registered patients, caregivers and health care institutions in Georgia.
Under the rule, dispensing licensees must verify the identity of the person receiving the order and confirm that a patient or caregiver has an active Medical Cannabis Registry Card before a delivery can be completed. Licensees are also required to maintain records tied to the recipient, including identification and registry information, providing regulators with documentation showing who received each delivery.
For patients and caregivers, deliveries are limited to qualifying addresses within Georgia and must comply with tracking, recordkeeping and verification requirements intended to maintain the same controls that apply to in-person medical cannabis transactions.
The rule also addresses deliveries to health care institutions, giving licensed dispensaries a formal pathway to provide medical cannabis products to eligible institutional recipients under the commission’s regulations.
The framework allows products to be transported through authorized shipping or delivery channels, including the U.S. Postal Service or private carriers. However, adoption of the state rule does not necessarily mean every listed delivery method will become available immediately, as licensees and carriers would still have to comply with other applicable state and federal requirements.
The commission also adopted Rule 351-8-.07, establishing a formal framework for determining when a medical cannabis product recall may be necessary and how regulators should evaluate potential problems involving products already in the market.
The rule gives the commission specific factors to consider when deciding whether to order or oversee a recall, providing a more structured process for responding to safety, quality or regulatory concerns. It is intended to help regulators determine the appropriate scope and response based on the circumstances of each case, rather than treating every product issue the same.
The change strengthens the commission’s ability to respond when medical cannabis products are suspected of being unsafe, improperly manufactured, mislabeled or otherwise out of compliance with state requirements.
A new Rule Chapter 351-9 creates a regulatory framework for medical cannabis research in Georgia, establishing a formal pathway for qualifying colleges and universities in the state to conduct studies involving cannabis products.
Under the framework, eligible academic institutions may conduct research in cooperation with licensed medical cannabis producers, allowing researchers to obtain and study regulated cannabis products within the state’s existing medical cannabis system. The rules are intended to provide clearer procedures for how research projects involving cannabis can be structured, approved and carried out while remaining under commission oversight.
The chapter also creates a mechanism for coordination between researchers and licensed producers, potentially allowing studies to examine medical cannabis products, formulations, delivery methods and other issues relevant to patient care and the operation of Georgia’s medical cannabis program.
By creating a dedicated research framework, the commission is giving Georgia universities a more clearly defined route to participate in cannabis research while maintaining regulatory controls over the products used in those studies.
The rules were initially posted by the commission on August 13. A public hearing was held September 16 before Wednesday’s adoption vote.
The regulatory overhaul follows the enactment of Senate Bill 220, the Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act, which took effect July 1.
That law significantly expanded Georgia’s medical marijuana program, removing the previous 5% THC potency limit, allowing additional product forms and increasing the amount registered patients may legally possess. Products are capped at 1,200 milligrams of THC per package, while registered patients and caregivers may possess up to 12,000 milligrams of THC.
The law also expanded the state’s list of qualifying conditions and allows medical cannabis flower for vaporization, while continuing to prohibit smoking marijuana.
Georgia currently licenses six medical cannabis production companies and more than 20 dispensary locations, in addition to independent pharmacies authorized to dispense medical cannabis.
The commission regulates cultivation, manufacturing, testing and dispensing under Georgia’s medical cannabis program, while the Georgia Department of Public Health administers the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry.
