Georgia Marijuana Laws
Facts on this page were checked against official sources, including the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission, by the Dr. Green Relief editorial team. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.
In short, Georgia allows medical cannabis for patients on the Georgia Medical Cannabis Patient Registry. A physician fully licensed in Georgia, with a principal place of practice there and a bona fide relationship with you, certifies you. The Department of Public Health issues a $30 card valid for five years, and possessing marijuana outside the program remains a crime.
Georgia marijuana laws let registered patients and caregivers possess medical cannabis products, up to 12,000 mg of THC, and recreational use is illegal.
This guide answers the questions people ask most about cannabis laws in Georgia: what the 12,000 mg limit covers, who may buy, where products are sold and what possession without a card risks.
Is Marijuana Legal in Georgia?
Recreational cannabis is illegal in Georgia, and state law applies in every Georgia city, including Atlanta and Macon. In addition, medical usage of cannabis is allowed: registered patients may use oils, capsules, patches and vapes, up to 12,000 mg of THC in total.
Is Medical Marijuana Legal?
Yes, for registered patients: Georgia’s medical cannabis laws let cardholders possess products with up to 12,000 mg of THC. A 2015 law, Haleigh’s Hope Act (HB 1), as enacted, made it legal for registered patients to possess cannabis oil that is low in THC (no more than 5% THC by weight, with at least as much CBD as THC).
To access medical cannabis in Georgia, patients must have a qualifying condition and a certification from a physician licensed in Georgia whose principal place of practice is in Georgia.
Is Recreational Marijuana Legal?
Marijuana legalization in Georgia for recreational purposes has not yet been enacted. It is illegal to use marijuana recreationally in this state. Georgia has not decriminalized marijuana: the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission notes that growing, possessing and smoking marijuana are criminal offenses in Georgia, punishable by fines and imprisonment. Federal law also makes unauthorized possession a crime, whatever the amount.
When Will Medical Cannabis Be Available in Georgia?
Even though Georgia medical marijuana laws were introduced in 2015, there has been a long wait for Georgia citizens to easily access and use “low THC oil,” the product the 2015 law authorized. Legal sales are now underway at state-licensed dispensaries, and SB 220 expanded the product types on July 1, 2026.
Georgia Marijuana Laws on Possession, Purchase and Growing
Possession and purchase rules differ for registry cardholders and everyone else, and growing marijuana is a crime for both.
Possession and Purchase Rules in Georgia
Possession and purchase of marijuana and marijuana products (apart from approved medical cannabis products) are illegal in Georgia. Possessing marijuana in Georgia, other than approved medical cannabis products held with a registry card, is a criminal offense punishable by fines and imprisonment. A city fine does not stop a state charge, because state law applies in every Georgia city.
How Much Can I Buy and Possess?
Registered patients may possess medical cannabis products with up to 12,000 mg of THC in total; for anyone without a registry card, buying or possessing cannabis is illegal in Georgia. Even those who have been approved for medical usage are only allowed to use approved medical cannabis products, such as oils, capsules and vaporizer products, including medical cannabis flower for vaporization; Georgia law prohibits smoking cannabis products.
Where Can I Obtain Cannabis?
Registered patients can now buy medical cannabis products at state-licensed dispensaries and independent pharmacies, under the state’s approval of the sale and usage of medical cannabis for registered patients. Dispensary locations are listed on the Commission’s website.
Who Can Legally Purchase Cannabis in Georgia?
No one may buy recreational cannabis in Georgia. Only registered patients and caregivers who hold a Georgia medical marijuana card can buy medical cannabis products.
Can You Grow Cannabis at Home in Georgia?
Home cultivation is illegal in Georgia.
Does Georgia Accept Out-of-State Medical Cards?
Georgia generally won’t recognize your medical marijuana card from another state, except for visitors with an equivalent card who have been in Georgia under 45 days.
What Cannabis Products Can You Use in Georgia?
Georgia keeps medical cannabis access limited, and state law treats marijuana as a controlled substance that the general public may not possess or use. Possessing any form of marijuana without legal authorization is a crime in Georgia; registered patients may possess approved medical cannabis products with up to 12,000 mg of THC in total, and hemp products are regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
Where Can I Safely Consume Cannabis?
Registered patients may use medical cannabis in Georgia, but never by smoking and never by vaping in a public place. Medical cannabis may be bought with a physician’s certification and registry card at licensed dispensaries.
Who Qualifies for Medical Cannabis in Georgia?
To join Georgia’s Medical Cannabis Patient Registry, patients need a diagnosis of one of the following 18 conditions:
- Any cancer except non-metastatic skin cancer
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Seizure disorders (epilepsy or trauma-related head injury)
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Lupus
- Mitochondrial disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Sickle cell disease
- Tourette’s syndrome
- Autism spectrum disorder (18 or older) or severe autism (under 18)
- Epidermolysis bullosa
- Alzheimer’s
- HIV diagnosed as Stage III
- Peripheral neuropathy (severe)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after direct exposure to or witnessing a trauma (18 or older)
- Hospice care, inpatient or outpatient
- Intractable pain
Are Edibles Legal in Georgia?
No. Georgia does not allow food products infused with medical cannabis, such as cookies and candies. Since July 1, 2026, licensed producers may make other ingestible products for registered patients.
How to Obtain a Medical Card?
If you want to have access to any kind of medical cannabis in Georgia, you’ll need to obtain a registry card from the Georgia Department of Public Health. Your Georgia physician submits the certification, and DPH then emails you a link to pay for the card.
Georgia allows no recreational cannabis, and medical use is limited to registered patients with one of 18 qualifying conditions. Home cultivation is illegal in Georgia even for registry cardholders, and possession outside the registry rules can bring fines and imprisonment.
Georgia City Guides
