Georgia Democrats Vote 80% In Favor of Cannabis Legalization

Georgia Democratic primary voters approved a non-binding adult-use ballot question on Tuesday, according to a Marijuana Moment report. The question was just one of nine questions Georgia Democrats put on the primary ballot to inform the legislature on residents’ support for a variety of topics, including student loan forgiveness, paid parental leave, free preschool, healthcare, and renewable energy. Republicans had their own slate of questions on Georgia’s open primary ballot but did not include a cannabis question.

As of Wednesday afternoon, with 99% of counties reporting results, the adult-use question had 80% in favor and 20% opposed, the report says. The question said that the proceeds from legal cannabis sales would be used for education, infrastructure, and health care programs.

Despite positive feedback about adult-use cannabis legalization on Tuesday, Georgia was unable to pass reforms to its limited medical cannabis system this legislative session, the report says.

The legislative inaction is in addition to a lawsuit filed by 16 potential licensees challenging the process by which Georgia awarded six cultivation licenses last year. The lawsuit has prolonged the situation in Georgia where medical cannabis is legal but products must contain less than 5% THC and there is no one in the state licensed to grow medical cannabis plants.

An 11alive poll in 2018 found 55% of Georgians support legalizing adult-use cannabis, with 35% opposed.