Revolutionizing Healthcare: Georgia to Pioneer Medical Cannabis Sales in Pharmacies

Over the past 18 months, Gary Long, the CEO of a medical cannabis company called Botanical Sciences, has dedicated much of his time to alleviating the concerns of small-town mayors in Georgia. He wants to clarify what exactly will be available at local pharmacies – medical marijuana. Long acknowledges the misconceptions some have and emphasizes that his company is not planning to sell joints in pharmacies.

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Local leaders who may be apprehensive can rest assured that weed sodas will not be available for sale alongside popular soft drinks like Coke Zero at their neighborhood pharmacy. However, by the end of this year, individuals who meet the specific criteria outlined in Georgia's conservative medical cannabis legislation will have the opportunity to purchase low-dose THC products at their local pharmacy. This groundbreaking development will be the first of its kind in the United States.

The Georgia Board of Pharmacy is currently in the process of reviewing applications from pharmacies across the state that are interested in selling low-dose THC products. According to Georgia law, these products can contain a maximum THC content of 5%. THC, also known as tetrahydrocannabinol, is the component of the cannabis plant responsible for its psychoactive effects and is often recommended by doctors to alleviate symptoms such as pain, nausea, insomnia, and other medical conditions. The available products may include THC oil, tinctures, topicals, capsules, and lozenges.

National chains such as CVS and Walmart will not be offering THC products in Georgia, but according to Long, his product will be exclusively available at 130 local pharmacies. The professional association representing independent pharmacies in the state indicates that many of the over 400 independent pharmacies are interested in obtaining the special THC sale license. Long stated that this would result in 90% of Georgians being within a 30-minute drive from a pharmacy authorized to sell THC.

In the photo captured by Kyle Grillot from Bloomberg via Getty Images, a customer can be seen enjoying a marijuana cigarette at the Lowell Cafe. This cannabis lounge, located in West Hollywood, California, is the first of its kind in America, offering a unique space for the consumption of cannabis. The existence of such establishments challenges the current market structure, which mainly allows cannabis sales through dispensaries and online orders. By providing a more open and public environment for cannabis consumption, the Lowell Cafe tests the public's interest in a product that is still prohibited in several jurisdictions.

Is California considering the introduction of cannabis cafes modeled after Amsterdam? A bill has been sent to the governor for consideration. Unlike Connecticut, where dispensaries require a pharmacist on staff but don't sell cannabis products, there are three other states, including Georgia, that have laws allowing pharmacies to sell these products. However, these laws have yet to be implemented, as stated by Andrew Turnage, the executive director of the GA Access to Medical Cannabis Commission.

It was surprising to see medical cannabis becoming readily available in a traditionally conservative state like Georgia. The announcement of the product's availability at pharmacies even caught the attention of late night TV host, Jimmy Kimmel, who featured a skit on the topic. The sudden attention was unprecedented for Long, who previously worked as an executive in the more formal healthcare technology industry.

"My 20-year-old kids were like Dad, you just went viral, And Im like, Ok, cool, " Long said.

Pharmacist Jonathan Marquess said patients have been asking for this kind of access for years.

A photograph taken in Brooklyn, New York on April 14, 2020 shows an individual engaging in recreational marijuana use in the Bushwick area of the borough. Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, some individuals are resorting to smoking weed as a means to alleviate stress. However, certain medical professionals caution against this practice, highlighting the potential for cannabis-induced airway inflammation that may complicate matters should the user contract COVID-19. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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Marquess stated that there are patients in his locality whom he frequently converses with, and they have been imploring for this development. The Georgia General Assembly sanctioned the dispensation of low-dose THC oil in 2019; however, it has taken years for the state to establish the necessary regulatory framework for its sale.

According to experts, creating regulations can be challenging. Despite efforts to reclassify it, marijuana is still considered a Schedule 1 substance by the US Drug Enforcement Administration. This classification implies that there is currently no recognized medical use for marijuana and that it is believed to have a high potential for abuse. Consequently, selling any form of cannabis is technically illegal, as it falls under the same category as heroin, LSD, and meth.

Jay Wexler, a professor of law at Boston University School of Law and the author of "Weed Rules," a book focused on legalization, explains, "Pharmacists are federally prohibited from dispensing cannabis, and any involvement with cannabis is also illegal. However, in the cannabis industry, many activities are formally illegal, but it raises the question of whether enforcement is feasible or likely."

The Justice Department is restricted by an appropriations rider from using funds to pursue legal actions against individuals who are abiding by state laws permitting the medical use of cannabis. As a result of this ambiguous legal situation, Governor Brian Kemp approved Georgia Board of Pharmacy regulations last month, enabling pharmacies to seek permission to sell THC.

Many of Marquess patients in the meantime have secured a doctors permission to register and get a card from the state needed to buy THC oil products.

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Marquess, vice president of the Academy of Independent Pharmacy of the Georgia Pharmacy Association, and a pharmacist with a few independent pharmacies alongside his spouse, revealed that numerous patients have demonstrated their cards to him. According to him, the absence of accessible low THC products has posed significant risks to his patients.

"Regrettably, at present, numerous individuals opt to travel out of state or visit locations that I wouldn't necessarily recommend for patients in order to obtain the product," Marquess expressed.

Marquess highlighted the significant benefits of obtaining THC from a pharmacist.

Marquess explained that pharmacists can offer education, resources, and counseling to help patients choose the appropriate products. Additionally, patients frequently visit pharmacists more frequently than they do their doctors.

Turnage, the GA Access to Medical Cannabis Commission's executive director, mentioned that several states have expressed interest in emulating Georgia's program.

"States with legalized recreational cannabis are facing challenges in maintaining their medical programs. These states are now exploring the option of utilizing dispensing pharmacies to ensure continued patient access. This proactive approach aims to prevent the collapse of their patient programs due to the increasing demand for recreational use," stated Turnage.

HHS has sent a recommendation on marijuana scheduling to the DEA for review.

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The official from HHS has urged the DEA to reclassify marijuana as a drug with lower risks. In states where recreational use is permitted, it often becomes challenging to find low THC products. This is because the cannabis flower is more profitable. For many patients, especially children, smoking, vaping, or consuming THC through edibles like gummies is not feasible or preferred.

Long expressed his hope for Georgia to consider broadening the eligibility criteria for accessing THC. Although pharmacy sales have made access in Georgia more fair, the state's laws are still more stringent compared to the majority of the 38 states that permit medical use of cannabis products. Aaron Smith, the executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, pointed out that the Georgia law still has significant room for improvement. California, on the other hand, has allowed for the purchase of medical cannabis since 1996 and has granted adults the right to use it for recreational purposes since 2016.

According to Smith, it is positive to observe Georgia aligning with the majority of states that have already embraced medical use. However, Smith believes that other states have implemented more efficient approaches in actually satisfying patients' requirements.

Subscribe now to receive The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday, brought to you by the CNN Health team. Doctors in Massachusetts have the authority to recommend medical marijuana for any patient they believe will benefit from it. However, Georgia imposes limitations on access to medical marijuana, permitting its use only for 16 specified illnesses, such as Alzheimer's, certain forms of cancer, PTSD, sickle cell disease, and Crohn's disease.

According to Turnage, the limited availability of products and patients who can use them is a challenge. However, he believes that expanding the availability of these products to more locations is important. Turnage mentioned that during the grand openings of dispensaries, he has been touched by the sight of numerous patients waiting outside. They often express their gratitude by hugging him and thanking him for making access to these products possible.

"I have been extremely grateful for the hot weather this summer. It allows me to attribute the moisture on my face to sweating, instead of revealing that they are tears. This realization makes all the difficulties faced to reach this point worthwhile," Turnage shared.