Senator to expand legal marijuana debate – The Newnan Times-Herald

A joint state House-Senate committee has spent the past several months studying the possibility of making cannabis oil with a low THC content available to Georgians under strict medical protocols.

But this week, Democratic Sen. Curt Thompson, D-Norcross, who is a member of the committee, pre-filed a bill that would allow for wide-ranging but tightly regulated medical use of marijuana for serious conditions.

Thompson also filed a resolution that would allow Georgians to vote on the full legalization of recreational marijuana. The Joint Study Committee on Prescription of Cannabis for Serious Medical Conditions, of which Thompson is a member, was created during the 2014 Georgia General Assembly session.

The General Assembly doesn’t begin meeting until January, but legislators can now begin pre-filing bills.

Thompson’s medical marijuana proposal is Senate Bill 7. It would allow doctors to prescribe up to 2 ounces of marijuana for specific debilitating medical conditions.

Thompson’s Senate Resolution 6 is a proposed amendment to the state constitution, which would allow for the legalization, regulation, sale – and taxing – of marijuana. Tax revenue would be constitutionally earmarked for education and transportation infrastructure.

via Senator to expand legal marijuana debate – The Newnan Times-Herald.