1. HB-885 HALEIGH’S HOPE ACT
MEDICAL CANNABIS IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA

2. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
▪ Marijuana has been federally banned in the US since 1934.
Because it is considered a schedule 1 drug, many of it’s
therapeutic and medical uses are not recognized.
▪ Clinical research says cannabis can treat glaucoma,
chemotherapy induced nausea, and seizure disorders, such as
epilepsy.
▪ Up to recently medical marijuana was only viewed as a “natural
alternative” to traditional medicine. However, recent research
shows that medical marijuana can treat seizures in children
who are resistant to traditional medicine, in one case going
from 300 seizures a day to one seizure per month. This is the
population that HB-885 has essentially advocated for, because
to them this is a potential life saving medicine.
▪ Because medical marijuana is not legal in Georgia, many
families are opting out to move to other states, where such
drug is available.

3. States with medical cannabis:
20 and Washington DC
Percentage of Americans who think
doctors should be allowed to
prescribe cannabis: 86%
Growth of cancer cases in the next
20 years: 45%
Growth of glaucoma in the next 20
years: 56%
Growth of seizure disorders in the
next 10 years : 9.4%

4. STATE POLICY ANALYSIS
Goals
▪ The bills seeks to provide
medical cannabis to
patients suffering from
glaucoma, nausea from
chemotherapy, and
seizure disorders.
▪ It seeks to establish
research.
▪ It is not meant to
promote recreational
use.
Benefits/services
▪ Prescription of cannabis
▪ New research of cannabis
▪ Possibility to bring in money
to Georgia
Who benefits?
▪ Those suffering from
glaucoma, nausea from
chemotherapy, and seizure
disorders
Conflict on solution
• Conflict exist on how to get
marijuana to Georgia.
• HB 885 was supported
unanimously by legislators

5. LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
Introduced to the
House. Assigned to
Health & Human
services committee
Amended to give
medical research
centers the ability
to cultivate
cannabis
Moved to the
Senate. Assigned
to Health & Human
services committee
Amended to
provide immunity
to get drug out of
state. Merged with
SB 397.
Went to the House.
Died due to SB 397
being attached to
it.
The House
attached HB 885 to
SB 291
Went to the Senate
where they refused
to pass it without
SB 397 attached

6. IMPLEMENTATION
PROCESS
Georgia
Composite
board
Patient
Review
board
Medical
Research
Centers
(ex: Emory)
Patients

7. COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS

8. PERSONAL REFLCTION &
COLLABORATIVE ADVOCACY