One of the biggest obstacles to safe cannabis access in Georgia is the failure of the Department of Public Health (DPH) to educate citizens. DPH is responsible for providing public health information on medical cannabis and hemp, yet they have not fulfilled their role.
Following the passage of SB 495, which required the mailing and emailing of medical cannabis cards, DPH delayed implementation and made the process unnecessarily complicated. Patients were misled about the status of the law, and to this day, email delivery has not been put into practice.
Beyond medical cannabis, DPH has also failed to provide clear guidance on hemp-derived products, leaving parents, law enforcement, and educators unsure of how to distinguish legal products from illegal ones. With more hemp-based intoxicating products on the market, this lack of education is leading to confusion and public safety concerns.
Public health agencies have a duty to provide accurate information, particularly when it comes to substances that impact health and safety. Georgia needs a transparent, science-based approach to cannabis education that includes clear guidelines on medical cannabis, hemp products, and safe consumption practices. Until DPH steps up to fulfill its responsibilities, organizations like SJ Labs & Analytics will continue to fill the gap.
