The struggle over legal medical marijuana in Georgia is nearly over. Yesterday, after minor changes were made by the Georgia Senate the Georgia House of Representatives passed House Bill 1. The bill had been introduced by Representative Allen Peake and legalizes a limited form of marijuana.
The Haleigh’s Hope Act
The bill, “The Haleigh’s Hope Act,” allows patients who suffer from eight debilitating conditions access to cannabis oil for treatment. The bill was named after Haleigh Cox, who suffers from a severe type of epilepsy. Haleigh and her family moved to Colorado last year after Georgia failed to pass the medical marijuana bill. Haleigh and her mother Janea watched the vote from the back of the House chamber.
“It’s so emotional. Because it was a hard fight last year. And to see it pass this year you can finally take a deep breath,” said Janea Cox afterward.
“To come home to this is just amazing. It’s a huge weight off our shoulders that we don’t have to stay in Colorado another year to wait for legislation to pass. So it’s giving my husband and I a chance to be a family again,” Cox said.
Governor Nathan Deal to sign the bill
Republican Governor Nathan Deal said that he will sign the bill that the House passed on Wednesday. Georgia will then become the 12th state to pass a limited medical marijuana program.
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