US MARIJUANA

Georgia governor signs law legalizing medicinal marijuana

Atlanta, Apr 16 (EFE).- Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal on Thursday signed a law allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes in the state, a move that will benefit up to 500,000 patients.

Deal signed the law flanked by legislators, activists and the families of patients who will be helped by the meausres, many of whom had gone to live in other states where medicinal marijuana was already legal so that they could receive it as part of their treatment.

Recently, Deal had ordered state agencies to prepare to comply with the regulation on the use of medicinal pot before the measure was to enter into force.

The law allows the use of medicinal cannabis oil to treat eight medical conditions: cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, convulsive disorders, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, mitochondrial disease, Parkinsons and sickle cell disease.

Patients with these conditions will be able to receive treatment but they will have to get a permit certifying that they are authorized to use cannabis oil.

Also, the law demands that the oil not contain more than 5 percent of the chemical THC, which is the one associated with the effects caused by pot when used for recreational purposes.

The law, known as Haleigh’s Hope Act in honor of one of the children who needs treatment for a severe form of epilepsy, establishes several restrictions on the production of cannabis oil - which may only be produced outside Georgia - to prevent it from being used for other purposes.

The main sponsor of the measure in the Georgia Legislature, Republican Allen Peake, was a firm opponent of legalization until he met Haleigh and her family and became committed to the cause.

Virginia became one of the most recent states to legalize pot for medicinal purposes, after the signing of a law to that effect in February, and at least nine other states - Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas - are pushing forward on measures with an eye toward legalizing it, according to the organization ProCon. EFE

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