Georgia governor signs medical marijuana bill into law

An emotional Gov. Nathan Deal has signed legislation that permits the use of medical marijuana in Georgia to treat eight serious health problems.

In a ceremony in the Capitol attended by about 100 parents, children and legislators, Deal on Thursday made Georgia the 36th state plus Washington, D.C., to legalize the use of marijuana extracts for medical use.

The conditions are cancer, ALS, seizure disorder, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, mitochondrial disease, Parkinson's and sickle cell.

Deal told a crowd that "refugee families" that moved to Colorado so children could be treated can come home after the 30 to 60 days it will take the state to get ready.

He was hugged by families of children, as was Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon, who authored House Bill 1 and has championed the legalization cause.

The law does not deal with the manufacturing, cultivation or sale of medical marijuana in Georgia, according to WXIA-TV, an NBC-affiliated television station based in Atlanta.

The Associated Press