Is medical marijuana legal in Georgia?

Yes, with limits. Medical cannabis is legal in Georgia for patients with a qualifying condition and a valid registration card issued by the Georgia Department of Public Health. Recreational marijuana is still illegal. Smoking is still illegal for everyone, card or no card. Only those on the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry can legally access medical cannabis.

The rules changed on July 1, 2026. Senate Bill 220, the Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act signed by Gov. Brian Kemp, is the largest expansion of Georgia’s medical cannabis program since it began. This article covers what the 2026 law allows, who qualifies, what a Georgia medical marijuana card costs, and what is still against the law.

What changed in Georgia’s medical cannabis program on July 1, 2026?

Before July 1, 2026, Georgia ran a narrow low THC oil program. Patients could possess up to 20 fluid ounces of low THC oil with no more than 5% THC by weight. SB 220 replaced that framework.

• The 5% THC cap is gone. Patients may now possess medical cannabis products containing a cumulative total of up to 12,000 milligrams of THC.
• New qualifying conditions were added, including lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, and autism spectrum disorder for adults 18 years of age or older.
• Vaporization is allowed for patients over 21 years of age. Smoking cannabis remains prohibited.
• Independent pharmacies can now dispense medical cannabis alongside licensed dispensaries.
• The Low THC Oil Registry was renamed the Georgia Medical Cannabis Patient Registry.

Is a low THC oil card still valid?

Yes. Existing low THC oil cards stay valid until they expire. A low THC oil card and a medical cannabis card are now the same thing.

The Georgia Department of Public Health runs the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry and issues medical cannabis cards. The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission licenses producers and dispensaries. Georgia’s medical cannabis program still does not allow anyone to grow their own marijuana.

Who qualifies for a medical marijuana card in Georgia?

A medical cannabis card in Georgia requires three things: Georgia residency, a qualifying condition, and certification from a Georgia licensed physician. Georgia residents only.

Qualifying conditions in 2026

The DPH list of qualifying medical conditions includes:

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Autism spectrum disorder (18 years of age or older). Severe autism qualifies under 18 years of age.
• Cancer, except non metastatic skin cancer. Metastatic skin cancer qualifies.
• Epidermolysis bullosa
• Hospice program enrollment
• HIV stage III
• Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease
• Intractable pain
• Lupus
• Mitochondrial disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Severe peripheral neuropathy
• Post traumatic stress disorder (18 years of age or older). Post traumatic stress disorder must stem from direct exposure to a trauma, and direct exposure includes witnessing one.
• Seizure disorders related to epilepsy, or seizure disorders related to head trauma
• Sickle cell disease
• Tourette’s syndrome

Georgia law uses “intractable pain,” not chronic pain. For cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and similar diagnoses, the physician confirms that such disease is present, that such disease is being treated, and that the patient is receiving health care for it.

Who can hold a medical cannabis card

• Patients 18 years of age or older with a qualifying condition.
• A parent, legal guardian, or legal custodian of a patient under 18 years of age with severe autism or another qualifying condition. The legal custodian holds the card.
• A designated adult caregiver.
• A health care institution administering medical cannabis to patients under its care, such as a hospice program.

Each caregiver needs a separate card. Georgia does not accept medical cannabis cards from other states, and Georgia medical cannabis cards do not work elsewhere. Without a card, legal possession is not possible.

How to get a card from the Department of Public Health

The process runs through your doctor, not a state application form.

1. See a Georgia licensed physician. Only fully licensed physicians registered with DPH can certify patients and manage patients on the registry. Any medical marijuana doctor you use must hold a full Georgia license. Telehealth visits are allowed.
2. The physician certifies your qualifying condition and uploads your information to the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry.
3. DPH verifies the documentation and emails payment instructions.
4. Pay the $30 state fee per card.
5. The card ships by UPS and requires a signature. The entire process usually takes a few weeks.

How much does a medical marijuana card cost in Georgia?

The state fee is $30 per Georgia medical card, valid for five years. The physician evaluation is separate. Telehealth certification services typically charge $99 to $200. Many require an annual follow up visit.

Which medical cannabis products can registered patients possess?

Georgia law sets a possession limit by THC weight, not by product count.

• Up to 12,000 milligrams of THC in total across all products.
• Products must be in the manufacturer’s labeled pharmaceutical container.
• Allowed forms include oils, tinctures, capsules, transdermal patches, lotions, and vape products.
• Food products infused with cannabis, such as cookies, candies, or other edibles, are not allowed under the statute.

Only registered patients and caregivers can legally possess medical cannabis. Possession by an unauthorized person is a crime, even if the product came from a Georgia dispensary.

Access to medical cannabis: dispensaries and pharmacies

Patients on the registry can purchase medical cannabis at two types of locations:

• Licensed dispensaries. The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission maintains a map of open dispensaries. As of mid 2026 there were roughly 20, concentrated in metro Atlanta and central Georgia.
• Independent pharmacies. SB 220 allows more than 400 independent pharmacies to dispense medical cannabis products, a first in the country. Check the Georgia Board of Pharmacy for licensed locations.

Georgia has no recreational dispensaries.

What the 2026 law still prohibits

The 2026 expansion widened access to medical cannabis for qualifying patients. It did not legalize marijuana. These remain illegal under Georgia law:

• Recreational marijuana use or possession by anyone without a registry card.
• Smoking any form of cannabis, including for card holders.
• Vaporization by patients 21 years of age or younger.
• Growing your own marijuana at home, including for card holders.
• Buying marijuana from any source other than a licensed dispensary or pharmacy.
• Using an out of state medical card. Only Georgia residents with a Georgia card are covered.

Is Georgia trying to legalize recreational marijuana?

No bill to legalize recreational marijuana has passed the Georgia General Assembly, and none advanced in the 2026 session. Georgia is not a 420 friendly state in the recreational sense. The medical program is the only legal path.

Can you smoke marijuana in your home in Georgia?

No. Georgia law prohibits smoking regardless of location or registry status. Patients over 21 years of age may vaporize approved medical cannabis products. Everyone else has no legal option.

Does a medical card protect you under federal law?

No. Marijuana is still a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. A Georgia medical marijuana card does not protect you on federal property, in federal employment, or from federal criminal prosecution. State and federal law conflict here, and where state and federal law disagree, federal law controls in federal settings.

The same applies to probation. Georgia law lets card holders possess and use medical cannabis, but a card does not override a court order. If your probation conditions prohibit marijuana, a positive drug test is still a violation. Read our guide to using medical marijuana while on probation in Georgia.

When legal access becomes a problem

Legal does not mean harmless. Cannabis use disorder affects roughly 3 in 10 people who use marijuana, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. A medical card can make it harder to see when use has crossed a line.

If cannabis use is causing problems at work, at home, or in court, medical care for the use itself is available. Lanier Recovery Center provides marijuana addiction treatment and dual diagnosis treatment in Georgia through outpatient programs that fit around work and family. Call (470) 470-5697 or contact our admissions team online.

Legal information disclaimer: This article provides general information, not legal advice. Georgia cannabis law changed on July 1, 2026 and may change again. Confirm current rules with the Georgia Department of Public Health or a Georgia attorney before relying on them.