Georgia’s Medical Cannabis Registry: What the State Records Say
This describes Georgia’s Medical Cannabis Patient Registry as of August 20, 2026, and Georgia’s position can change. In Georgia, access begins with certification by an eligible physician, followed by registration and an active Medical Cannabis card; Georgia’s records describe that card as proof of authorization to possess medical cannabis.
This describes Georgia’s Medical Cannabis Patient Registry as of August 20, 2026, and Georgia’s position can change. In Georgia, access begins with certification by an eligible physician, followed by registration and an active Medical Cannabis card; Georgia’s records describe that card as proof of authorization to possess medical cannabis. 1
This article is general information, not individualized legal, medical, business, or compliance advice. Whether any of it applies to a particular person, product or business depends on the facts and on applicable state law; consult a qualified professional.
What Georgia’s registry is
Georgia law authorizes the Georgia Department of Public Health to establish the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry and issue Medical Cannabis cards to certified patients and caregivers. Georgia’s registry is the mechanism through which qualifying patients are certified and managed for legal access to medical cannabis. 1
Georgia law defines medical cannabis as any plant in the Cannabis genus, and any part or derivative of that plant, that contains tetrahydrocannabinol, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, or a combination of those substances. 1
Who may certify a patient in Georgia
In Georgia, a physician may certify and manage a patient for the registry only if the physician is fully licensed to practice in Georgia and has a principal place of practice in Georgia. Georgia’s records state that annual physician certification is the only way patients can legally access medical cannabis in Georgia. 1
For a Georgia patient to qualify for a Medical Cannabis card as an adult patient, the patient must be at least 18 years old, have one or more qualifying conditions, and be a Georgia resident. The records identify the qualifying-condition list as the eligibility basis for the registry; inclusion on that list does not state that medical cannabis treats or cures the condition. 1
What the Georgia card proves
A Georgia Medical Cannabis card proves that the cardholder is authorized to possess medical cannabis. Georgia’s records state that only physician-certified patients and caregivers with an active Medical Cannabis card are legally allowed to possess medical cannabis in Georgia. 1
The Georgia records do not describe the registry card as making every form of marijuana legal in Georgia. They state that Georgia patients or caregivers in the registry may legally possess medical cannabis containing up to 12,000 milligrams of THC, while possession of marijuana by an unauthorized person violates Georgia and federal law. 1
Who may be a caregiver in Georgia
Georgia’s records identify three caregiver categories. A caregiver may be a parent, guardian, or legal custodian of a Georgia patient younger than 18 who has a qualifying condition. A caregiver may also be an adult designated by a patient with a qualifying condition to assist with purchasing, possessing, and administering medical cannabis or products for that patient’s use. 1
A Georgia caregiver may also be a health care institution defined in OCGA § 51-1-29.5 when a patient is receiving health or medical care there for a qualifying condition and the institution agrees to allow the patient to possess and use medical cannabis on its premises. 1
Georgia’s listed qualifying conditions
As of August 20, 2026, Georgia’s records list these qualifying conditions or circumstances for the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, autism spectrum disorder when diagnosed in a patient at least 18 years old, severe autism when diagnosed in a patient younger than 18, any cancer except skin cancer unless the skin cancer is metastatic, epidermolysis bullosa, hospice participation as an inpatient or outpatient, stage III HIV, inflammatory bowel disease, intractable pain, lupus, mitochondrial disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, severe peripheral neuropathy, post-traumatic-stress disorder resulting from direct exposure to or witnessing of trauma when diagnosed in a patient at least 18 years old, seizure disorders related to epilepsy or trauma-related head injuries, sickle cell disease, and Tourette’s syndrome. 1
In Georgia, the condition list determines who may be considered for certification and registry access under the state’s described mechanism. It is an eligibility criterion, not a statement by Georgia’s registry that cannabis treats any listed condition. 1
What the records do not establish
The supplied Georgia records describe certification, registry enrollment, card eligibility, caregiver categories, possession authorization, the THC limit, and qualifying conditions. They do not establish patient counts, enrollment totals, growth rates, trends, or additional access rules beyond those points. For a real Georgia eligibility or compliance decision, the relevant facts should be evaluated by a qualified professional using the current state requirements. 1