Stock image of pharmacist and patient with medical marijuana.Photo: Jupiter Images/Getty Images
Medical marijuanawill soon be available in pharmacies in Georgia.
The state is set to become the first in the U.S. to legalize the purchase ofproducts containing THCat local pharmacies this year,The Atlanta Journal-Constitutionreported earlier this month.
This week, Gary Long, the CEO of medical cannabis companyBotanical Sciences, toldCNNthat he wants Georgia officials to let go of negative connotations surrounding the plant’s extracts.
“They think that we’re going to be selling joints out of a pharmacy or something and that’s not right,” Long toldCNNFriday. According to theBotanical Scienceswebsite, the company is Georgia’s first physician-owned medical cannabis provider and that “89% of Georgia’s population will have access to Botanic Sciences products within a 30-minute drive.”
Marijuana and prescription.Photo © Tommy Flynn/Photographer’s Choice/Getty Images
The medical cannabis law lists applicable conditions for caregivers and/or patients as cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, seizure disorders, Parkinson’s disease, sickle cell disease, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among others. Terms and conditions apply.
Legally, dosages of THC purchased in Georgia will not be able to exceed 5%.
And while patients who meet the criteria for the Low THC Oil Patient Registry won’t be able to pick up cannabis products at large chains such asWalgreens or CVS, CNN adds that there are over 400 independent pharmacies within the state of Georgia that can participate in the program.
Farmers examine the growth of fresh marijuana for medical use.Cavan Images / Getty Images
Mindy Leech, a pharmacist and the owner of Lee-King Pharmacy in Newnan, is all for introducing medical marijuana to Georgia residents.
“Pharmacists are a trusted provider, and it’s a way for us to destigmatize this new medicine,” she said, per theAtlanta Journal-Constitution. “It will make people more comfortable if they want to come in and ask questions about it.”
Although his drugstore has been serving the community for over a century, this week marks the beginning of the application process to sell medical cannabis oil to residents who hold a legal prescription and a registry card.
“I think it’ll be a good thing for patients. Like, for instance, I havea daughter who has seizures, so it could be beneficial to her, and other patients like her. We’re going through the process now to get all that approved,” Chapman said.
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“It’s just a 15-to-20-minute drive from where patients are located across the state. That’s going to be so much easier for them to get access,” Turnage said.
Chapman added, “Just having another choice will be great for us, honestly. It’ll probably be good business for us as well.”
source: people.com
