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Georgia Low THC Oil vs Medical Cannabis After SB 220

November 10, 2026 09:00 am ET Estimated Read Time: 10 Minutes

Georgia Low THC Oil vs Medical Cannabis After SB 220

If you’ve been calling it the “Low THC Oil” program, you’re not alone, but Georgia stopped using that name on July 1, 2026. Senate Bill (SB) 220 renamed it the Georgia Medical Cannabis Patient Registry, and it changed more than the label. The good news for current patients is that a Low THC Oil card that hasn’t expired stays valid until its printed date. If you’re starting fresh, Veriheal connects you with a Georgia physician for an online video evaluation.

This guide walks through what the new law changed, what stayed the same, and what both mean for you, whether you already hold a card or are about to apply.

What Is Georgia’s Low THC Oil Program, and How Is It Different From Medical Cannabis?

The old name is gone, but Georgia’s program is still narrower than most. SB 220 replaced “low THC oil” with “medical cannabis” throughout state law, according to NORML’s report on the signing. The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) still describes the law as much more limited than medical cannabis laws in other states, intended to protect certified people from criminal prosecution for possessing it. That narrow design shapes several rules:

Physician certification: DPH says it’s the only way patients can legally access medical cannabis.
Registered possession: Only certified patients and caregivers with an active card may legally possess it.
Limited forms: Smoking and infused foods remain off the table.

What Haleigh’s Hope Act Established: The Original Rules

Georgia’s program grew in steps, and each law added something. The timeline looked like this:

2015, the registry: Haleigh’s Hope Act (HB 1) created the Low THC Oil Registry, which let certified patients possess low THC oil without facing prosecution.
2019, in-state production: Georgia’s Hope Act (HB 324) allowed oils with up to 5% THC to be produced and sold within the state, according to the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP).
2021, more product forms: SB 195 expanded products beyond oils, according to the MPP.

Two limits defined the old system. Products couldn’t exceed 5% THC, and the Georgia DPH described the possession limit as 20 fluid ounces of low THC oil. If a guide you’re reading still treats the 5% cap as current law, it was written before SB 220.

What SB 220 Changed: The Full Breakdown

SB 220 took effect on July 1, 2026, after Governor Kemp signed it on May 12. This table compares the program before and after:

Rule	Before SB 220	After SB 220
Program name	Low THC Oil Registry	Georgia Medical Cannabis Patient Registry
THC limit	5% THC cap on products	No potency cap
Possession	20 fluid ounces of low THC oil	12,000 mg of THC in total, with up to 1,200 mg per package
Vaporization	Not permitted	Allowed for patients 21 and older
Conditions	Several conditions carried severity requirements	Lupus and inflammatory bowel disease added, and severity gates removed for most listed conditions
Out-of-state patients	Not covered	FOX 5 reports up to 45 days of legal possession with an out-of-state registry card

The possession limit is a cumulative total across every product you hold, and products must stay in manufacturer-labeled pharmaceutical containers showing their THC amount. DPH’s law enforcement page confirms the labeling rule. The out-of-state row comes from news coverage of the bill’s text, so confirm the details with DPH or the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission (GMCC) before you travel.

What Stayed the Same After SB 220

SB 220 widened access in a lot of ways, but it didn’t turn Georgia into a state with a broad medical cannabis market. The core structure of the program is the same, and so are several firm limits that patients still need to follow. If you’re comparing the old rules with the new ones, these pieces haven’t changed:

Smoking: It’s still illegal, even for registered patients.
Infused foods: Cookies, candies, and similar products still aren’t allowed.
Public use: It’s still prohibited.
Registry: DPH still runs it, and a Georgia-licensed physician must still certify you.
Dispensaries: The GMCC still licenses them.

Qualifying Conditions Under Georgia’s Updated Program

DPH now lists 18 qualifying conditions, and SB 220 added lupus and inflammatory bowel disease. Your physician decides whether you qualify and enters your certification in the registry. You don’t self-certify. The current list:

ALS: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Alzheimer’s disease
Autism spectrum disorder: Diagnosed at 18 or older, or severe autism when diagnosed under 18.
Cancer: Any cancer except skin cancer, unless it is metastatic skin cancer.
Epidermolysis bullosa
Hospice care: Inpatient or outpatient.
HIV: When diagnosed as stage III.
Inflammatory bowel disease
Intractable pain
Lupus
Mitochondrial disease
Multiple sclerosis
Parkinson’s disease
Peripheral neuropathy: When symptoms are diagnosed as severe.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): From direct exposure to, or witnessing, a trauma, for patients 18 or older.
Seizure disorders: Related to epilepsy or trauma-related head injuries.
Sickle cell disease
Tourette’s syndrome

For the current wording of each entry, check DPH’s qualifying conditions page.

How to Get a Registry Card in Georgia

The sequence matters, because the physician’s certification starts everything. DPH outlines it on its patients and caregivers page:

See a Georgia physician: The physician must be fully licensed in Georgia with a principal practice location in the state. Veriheal’s guide on telemedicine for medical cannabis explains the online route.
Share your history: Bring a current ID and proof of Georgia residency.
Get certified: The physician certifies you and enters you in the registry.
Pay the state fee: DPH emails a payment link. Pay the $30 fee plus the $3.75 online service fee within 60 days.
Receive your card: It ships by UPS, and someone must sign for it, up to 10 business days after payment.

The card is valid for five years, and DPH says patients also need annual physician certification. The evaluation is a separate cost, and Veriheal keeps it simple with a $199 fee that can be split into interest-free installments. Caregivers can apply for their own cards, at $30 each. For timing, read Veriheal’s guide on how long it takes to get a medical card.

What Current Cardholders Need to Know About the SB 220 Transition

If you already hold a card, you don’t need to re-register right away. A Low THC Oil card stays valid until its printed expiration date, and your physician keeps recertifying you each year. DPH states that only physician-certified patients and caregivers with an active card are legally allowed to possess medical cannabis, so a lapse leaves you without that protection.

To stay covered, check your card’s expiration date, and ask your physician to update your registry information if anything changes. You can also check your card status online. DPH’s FAQ doesn’t describe a grace period, so call the Georgia Medical Cannabis Program at (770) 909-2765 before your card expires. For the benefits of keeping an active card, read Veriheal’s guide on the benefits of a medical marijuana card.

How Georgia’s Dispensary Licensing Structure Affects Product Access

The GMCC licenses Georgia’s dispensaries, and its website lists locations. The program’s first licensees, Trulieve and Botanical Sciences, were vertically integrated, which means they grow, process, and sell their own products, according to Cannabis Business Times. That structure helps explain why menus vary from one location to the next. Independent pharmacies can also dispense, which adds access points outside the dispensary network.

Because products and prices differ, call ahead before you travel, and check the menu for the forms you need.

Does Federal Law Treat Georgia’s Program Differently Now?

In one way, yes. State-licensed medical marijuana moved from Schedule I to Schedule III on April 28, 2026, under Federal Register rule 2026-08176. Marijuana outside a state medical license, and outside FDA-approved products, stays in Schedule I. The change doesn’t alter how your card works in Georgia, and it doesn’t make insurance cover cannabis, since the plant itself isn’t an FDA-approved drug. The firearms section below covers the part that matters most to cardholders.

What Should Georgia Cardholders Ask a Licensed Attorney About Firearms?

Federal gun rules changed in 2026, but not in a way that settles every cardholder’s question. The Supreme Court’s June 18 ruling in United States v. Hemani unanimously held that prosecuting someone under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3) based solely on marijuana use was inconsistent with the Second Amendment, and the Court called its decision narrow. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) also rescinded its 2011 open letter, which had told dealers a medical card was grounds to refuse a sale.

Other pieces are unchanged. Section 922(g)(3) remains federal law, ATF Form 4473 is unchanged, and the ATF hasn’t issued replacement guidance, so dealer practices may vary and a false answer still carries real federal risk. A licensed attorney can sort out how that applies to you. Questions worth bringing:

The form: How should I answer the drug-use question on Form 4473?
My dealer: What if a dealer’s policy differs from the court ruling?
Timing: Does the order of getting my card and buying a firearm matter?

For more detail, read Veriheal’s guide on medical cannabis patients and gun rights.

How Can Veriheal Help You Get a Georgia Card?

Whether your Low THC Oil card is close to expiring or you’re applying for the first time, the physician’s evaluation is the step that keeps your access going. Your physician decides whether certification fits your care, and Veriheal backs the visit with a “get approved or your money back” policy.

To get started, begin your Georgia evaluation with Veriheal, or find a medical marijuana doctor online if you’d like to compare your options first.

Note: The content on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be professional medical advice. Do not attempt to self-diagnose or prescribe treatment based on the information provided. Always consult a physician before making any decision on the treatment of a medical condition.

Note: Veriheal does not support illegally consuming therapeutic substances such as cannabis but acknowledges that it transpires because of the current illicit status, which we strive to change by advocating for research, legal access, and responsible consumption. Always consult a physician before attempting alternative therapies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between low THC oil and medical cannabis in Georgia?

Low THC oil was the program’s old name, and medical cannabis is the new one under SB 220. The law also removed the 5% THC cap, set a 12,000 mg possession limit, and allowed vaporization for patients 21 and older. Georgia’s program is still narrower than most states’.

Is my Low THC Oil card still valid?

A Low THC Oil card that hasn’t expired stays valid until its printed expiration date, so you don’t need to re-register right away. Your physician still recertifies you each year.

Can I vape medical cannabis in Georgia now?

Georgia now allows patients 21 and older to vaporize medical cannabis, a change that came with SB 220. Vaporizing heats the product without burning it, which differs from smoking, and smoking remains illegal even for registered patients. Ask your dispensary what vaporization products it currently stocks.

How much THC can I possess in Georgia?

Patients can possess up to 12,000 mg of THC in total across all products, and each package can hold up to 1,200 mg. Products must stay in manufacturer-labeled pharmaceutical containers showing their THC amount.

Did SB 220 add any qualifying conditions?

SB 220 added lupus and inflammatory bowel disease to Georgia’s qualifying conditions, and it removed severity requirements from most listed conditions. Intractable pain already qualified. DPH now lists 18 conditions in all.

Is medical marijuana legal in Georgia?

Medical cannabis is legal in Georgia for registered patients, within the program’s limits. Recreational cannabis remains illegal. DPH describes the law as intended to protect certified patients from prosecution for possession.

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