With the 2026 legislative session on the horizon, Georgia lawmakers have begun a serious examination of the state’s medical cannabis and recreational hemp laws, signaling these issues will be top priorities. A new House study committee dedicated to cannabis consumption held its inaugural meeting this week at the state Capitol, kicking off a months-long process to inform future policy.

The bipartisan committee, comprised of lawmakers, agency leaders, medical professionals, and everyday citizens, will conduct three additional hearings between now and October. Their work will involve reviewing medical studies, soliciting expert testimony, and comparing Georgia’s existing marijuana laws with those of other states, culminating in a report with official policy recommendations.

Chaired by Augusta Republican and physician Rep. Mark Newton, the committee is tasked with studying two distinct policy subsets: the state’s medical cannabis program, administered by the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission, and commercial hemp products, which fall under the federal 2018 Farm Bill and the Georgia Hemp Farming Act.

“There is some blurring in this committee, which happens because of the fact that we’re looking at, really, two different policies,” Newton explained. “Medical marijuana is one area of this Blue Ribbon commission that we’re assigned with, and the second area is hemp policies.”

The renewed focus comes after several bills related to medical cannabis and hemp beverages stalled during the recent 2025 session. That session also marked the 10-year anniversary of Haleigh’s Hope Act, which first legalized possession of low-THC oil and established the licensing commission. While subsequent legislation allowed in-state production and sales, advocates argue current laws still impede patient access to necessary forms of medical cannabis.

Georgia has seen incremental growth in its low-THC oil program, now serving over 33,700 patients, supported by 2,300 caregivers and 700 physicians, according to the state Department of Public Health. Patients suffering from intractable pain and post-traumatic stress diagnoses account for more than 75% of enrollees, alongside those with conditions like cancer, seizure disorders, and Parkinson’s. However, Georgia’s enrollment figures are significantly lower than those in Southern states like Mississippi and Louisiana, which boast closer to 50,000 patients despite smaller populations.

Adding another layer to the legislative discussions, a separate Senate Study Committee on Intoxicating Cannabinoids in Consumable Hemp Products is also poised to examine the regulation of recreational products, such as THC-infused drinks. These products, chemically similar to medical cannabis but more widely available due to hemp laws, have prompted concerns about oversight. The first meeting date for the Senate committee has not yet been publicly announced.

The House committee’s next meeting is scheduled for August 21 in Augusta, signaling a busy interim period as lawmakers prepare for potential significant changes in the burgeoning cannabis landscape.