Georgia governor to sign bill allowing limited medical marijuana use

Georgia Republican Gov. Nathan Deal will sign legislation legalizing a nonsmoked form of medical marijuana for patients with seizure disorders and seven other medical conditions, the governor's spokesman said.

Deal plans to wait until after the legislative session ends next week before signing it, spokesman Brian Robinson said.

On Friday, however, Deal signed an executive order directing state agencies to begin preparing to enact the legislation, Robinson added.

The Georgia bill, which was finalized by lawmakers on Wednesday, would allow patients with diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis to use a nonintoxicating oil derived from the marijuana plant, often from a strain known as Charlotte's Web.

To legally use the oil, patients or their caregivers must obtain a registration card from the state Department of Public Health. Their physician also must certify that they are being treated for one of the medical conditions covered by the bill.

Similar legislation failed during last year's session.

Georgia would be the 12th U.S. state to approve such use of the oil, the pro-marijuana organization NORML said. The approach is more limited than those of 23 other states, which allow regular marijuana to be smoked for medicinal purposes.

Reuters