With some minor enhancements, House Bill 722 would offer Georgians the benefits of medical cannabis needed by many and eliminate dangers from its use. Having witnessed the negative impact of marijuana on individuals, I was against efforts to create a path to legalize medical cannabis. Then I began learning about the many classes of compounds known as cannabinoids that make up the cannabis plant and the unique role each compound may play in our health care.
I learned that benefits of just a few compounds such as cannabigerol acts an effective treatment for glaucoma. Or the compound offering incredible results for so many in Georgia, cannabidiol that can relieve convulsions of seizure victims. With the passage of HB1 (Haleigh’s Hope Act), the compound may also be used to treat cancer, ALS, MS, Crohn’s disease, Mitochondrial disease, Parkinson’s and sickle cell disease.
The compound that concerns us, tetrahydrocannabinol, creates the psychoactive impact and makes people high when they smoke marijuana. However, few of us realize THC can be stripped from the cannabis plant, leaving only compounds for health needs. You see a similar method when working in your garden to breed flowers for certain colors or traits.
Manufacturers in Europe, with government supervision, are able to generate and clone specific plants that allow for a consistent and controlled dosage for various patient needs. The final product can be a mist patients use to treat various illnesses. Delivery can also be by tablet or oil but never requires smoking to obtain the benefits.
HB 722 attempts to resolve an important issue left unresolved after the passage of HB1 last year: How do Georgians in need of cannabidiol gain access? A family bringing such treatment back to the state has violated the federal Controlled Substance Act.
HB 722 creates a method for manufacturers to open facilities in the state and a distribution model within the industry. However, if the bill were passed in its current form, it would not resolve the issue of manufacturing and distribution of the medicine by legitimate businesses.
The controlled substance acts for both federal and state governments place all of the compounds of the cannabis plant into the strictest categories, Schedule I. The desire is to address the psychoactive properties created by THC. But there is a simple solution that can be added to HB 722 to resolve this going forward.
Legitimate manufacturers, pharmacies, nor insurers will provide access to a drug prohibited by either federal or state laws. Until the issue is resolved at both levels, the costs of development are too great to risk being stopped by a president choosing to enforce the controlled-substances act or funding from Congress. It is not good business to move ahead unless the drugs are legal to manufacture, distribute and reimburse.
Some may assume this was addressed in the earlier bill. However, that may not be enough to entice legitimate manufacturers into the state without addressing this concern.
The simplest solution is to add language stipulating that upon approval of the Federal Drug Administration for any drug with components found in Schedule I of the FCSA, it will be placed into the same category the approved drug is placed into by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency. This resolves the issue; once the FDA approves a drug, the DEA must reclassify it within 90 days. There is no need to design a new scheme for scheduling controlled substance.
Once the FDA finds an actual medical benefit and is safe for treatment, Georgia will have an automatic trigger to accommodate medical cannabis solutions. This will remove the legal barriers preventing legitimate manufacturers, pharmacies and insurers from meeting the needs of Georgians.
Joe Schuebert
Gainesville