Georgia has unique laws for cannabis purchasing, possession, and consumption. The state allows highly regulated medical marijuana in the form of low-THC oil, while also supporting the rapidly growing industry of hemp-derived products. Understanding the laws, limits, and regulations surrounding cannabis purchasing is crucial for patients, caregivers, businesses, medical professionals, and legal professionals. In this blog, we will discuss the daily cannabis purchasing limit in Georgia and outline the difference between possession and purchasing.
Understanding Georgia’s Medical Marijuana Purchasing Rules
Georgia’s hemp laws are derived from the 2018 Farm Bill and the Georgia Hemp Farming Act. These regulations allow the cultivation, processing, and retail sale of industrial hemp and consumable hemp products, such as tinctures, gummies, oils, and topicals. The key point is that the sale is legal as long as the product contains less than 0.3% of delta-9 THC by dry weight. Below are some guidelines about who can purchase these products:
Medical Card and Marijuana Use Registry
The Haleigh’s Hope Act (HB 1, 2015) authorizes access to low-THC (no more than 5% THC by weight) oil for registered patients with qualifying medical conditions. Patients may legally purchase and possess up to 20 fl. oz. of low-TCH oil at a time. However, patients must possess a valid state-issued medical marijuana card in order to purchase the products.
Doctor’s Recommendations, Dosage Guidance, and Purchase Impact
Patients with any of the several serious medical conditions may register to receive a Low TCH Oil Registry card from the Georgia Department of Health. A qualified doctor must diagnose the condition and recommend the card for a patient to be considered a qualifying person. Once the patient has received their medical marijuana card after a due process, they are allowed to purchase and possess up to 20 fl. oz. of low-TCH oil with their card presented at the time of purchase.
Products That Dispensaries Are Allowed to Sell
Georgia’s laws treat both hemp dispensaries and low-THC oil (medical marijuana) dispensaries differently. Thus, they are regulated with separate licensing and permits. Hemp dispensaries can sell any hemp products, including gummies, that contain less than 0.3% of delta-9 THC by dry weight, to anyone over the age of 21 (as of July 1, 2024). The products must:
- Have a THC warning sticker
- Include a QR code linking to a certificate of analysis (COA) showing cannabinoid content and contamination levels
- Follow packaging rules, such as being tamper-evident, child-resistant, not appealing to children (gummies), and not resembling low-THC oil or medical marijuana dispensaries
On the other hand, low-THC oil dispensaries (medical marijuana) can sell tinctures, capsules, lozenges, and topicals to qualifying patients above the age of 18 (or minors with guardian or caregiver permission).
Georgia’s Purchase Limits Explained
Here’s how marijuana purchase limits work for consumers in Georgia:
Daily Purchase Limits
There is no specific “daily purchase limit” defined by law in Georgia for hemp or medical marijuana products. The law does not prohibit the number of items you can buy in a day. Instead, it limits possession and the amount of THC per packaging.
Legality of Products
Here’s an overview of the kind of products allowed by the hemp law and the low-THC oil law.
- Flowers and leaves: Prohibited under both
- Vapes: Prohibited under medical rules, allowed under hemp retail, subject to low THC limits
- Beverages: Prohibited under medical rules, allowed under hemp retail
- Baked goods: Prohibited in both
- Tinctures and oils: Allowed in both
- Topicals: Allowed in both
- Capsules and lozenges: Allowed in both
- Gummies: Allowed in both under different formulations
Limits by Product Type
Delta-9 THC limits per product type are as follows.
- Gummies: Max 10 mg per serving, 300mg per package
- Beverages: Max 5 mg per serving
- Tinctures: Max 1 mg per serving, 10 fl. oz. per container
- Topicals: Max 1,000 mg per package
Things to Consider When Purchasing Marijuana
As a consumer, here are a few things to consider when purchasing marijuana.
- Legal eligibility: Determine your legal eligibility and access
- Medical marijuana: You must have a valid Georgia Low THC Oil Registry card to enter a licensed dispensary. This requires a physician’s certification for specific qualifying conditions, such as PTSD or end-stage cancer.
- Hemp retail: You must be over the age of 21 with a valid government-issued ID.
- Verify products for safety and quality: Always read warning labels, look for QR codes for the Certificate of Analysis (COA), and ensure the product complies with legal requirements.
- Potency: Read the amount and percentage of THC in a product to verify its potency and ensure a safe, effective experience.
Possession vs. Purchasing Limits
Registered medical patients and caregivers in Georgia are legally allowed to possess up to 20 fl. oz. of low-THC oil (maximum 5% THC) at any given time. There is no purchase limit, but since there is a possession limit in place, dispensaries will not sell you more than what you can possess. In hemp retail, the law governs the packaged amount of THC rather than posing limitations on possession or purchasing.
Conclusion
For a safe, effective, and legal experience, it’s important to understand the legal purchasing and possession limits regarding hemp and medical marijuana. In conclusion, anyone over the age of 21 can purchase hemp-derived marijuana products as long as they have less than 0.3% THC by dry weight, whereas under medical marijuana laws, qualifying patients over the age of 18 can purchase and possess up to 20 fl. oz. (under 5% THC) of medical marijuana products in accordance with low-THC oil regulations.
