Georgia Medical Cannabis Qualifying Conditions

The 17 Qualifying Conditions

Eligibility requires a diagnosis on this list from a Georgia-licensed MD or DO in good standing with the Georgia Composite Medical Board, with a bona fide doctor-patient relationship. Many conditions still carry a “severe or end-stage” qualifier that limits enrollment.

Brief Clinical Context

Georgia’s program is the most restrictive medical-cannabis program in any state currently dispensing product. Low THC oil must contain no more than 5% THC by weight and at least as much CBD as THC, and the program permits oils, tinctures, capsules, lozenges, topicals, and transdermal patches only — no smokable flower, no vape cartridges, and no conventional edibles.

Intractable Pain

Added by HB 65 in 2018, intractable pain is by far the most common qualifying condition cited at registration. Georgia’s Department of Public Health does not define a specific severity threshold; the certifying MD or DO exercises clinical judgment.

PTSD

PTSD must arise from direct exposure to or witnessing of a trauma. Veterans should bring documentation of their VA diagnosis to the evaluation; VA physicians cannot certify directly, but a Georgia-licensed MD/DO with a bona fide relationship can review VA records and submit a state certification.

Cancer

Cancer remains gated by a “severe or end-stage” qualifier or by treatment causing wasting or refractory N/V. SB 220 (2026), if signed, would strike the “severe or end-stage” language from cancer, ALS, MS, Parkinson’s, sickle cell, Alzheimer’s, and peripheral neuropathy — substantially widening eligibility.

Autism

For patients 18+ the diagnosis alone is sufficient. For patients under 18, autism must be characterized as severe; a parent/guardian caregiver registration is required.

Hospice Patients

Any patient enrolled in a Georgia-licensed hospice program qualifies, regardless of the underlying disease. This pathway is meant to be the broadest end-of-life route.

Crohn’s Disease and Sickle Cell

Crohn’s qualifies without a severity qualifier; sickle cell is still gated by “severe or end-stage.” The pharmacy-partner channel (rolled out October 2024) has been particularly valuable for sickle cell patients, who often have established hematology/pharmacy relationships.

Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders

The original 2015 condition for which Haleigh’s Hope Act is named. CBD-dominant products are commonly used; FDA-approved Epidiolex is also available outside the cannabis program for specific pediatric epilepsies.

The Georgia Department of Public Health administers the Low THC Oil Patient Registry under O.C.G.A. § 16-12-191. The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission (GMCC) regulates production and dispensing.

Georgia DPH Low THC Oil Patient Registry

What If My Condition Is Not Listed?

Georgia does not currently offer a petition mechanism for adding conditions; expansion has come through legislative amendments (HB 1, SB 16, HB 65). SB 220 (2026) is the next pending expansion. If your diagnosis does not fit, talk to a Georgia-licensed MD or DO — intractable pain or hospice enrollment may apply.

For Research-Backed Information

For evidence-based summaries on how cannabis may affect specific conditions, see TryCannabis.org’s conditions guide. Always consult your treating physician about whether low-THC oil is appropriate for your specific situation.

Next Steps

• If you match one of the 17 conditions, see how to apply for a Georgia medical card.
• Compare costs on the cost & renewal page.
• Out-of-state visitors should review Georgia medical card reciprocity.
• See the pending SB 220 (2026) expansion.