The wider availability of low-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oil is expected to significantly increase access for registered patients.
The Georgia Board of Pharmacy began accepting applications early in October. The advocacy group NORML said that within weeks, 120 pharmacies had agreed to provide medication from Botanical Sciences, one of the state’s two licensed THC production companies. Georgia already had seven marijuana dispensaries open in the state in April.
Botanical Sciences said in a press release that over the past year, it has been working closely with the Georgia Board of Pharmacy, the Georgia Pharmacy Association, and the Academy of Independent Pharmacy to get its products into independent pharmacies. With the additional locations, Botanical Sciences noted that 89.8% of the state’s residents will soon have access to its products within a 30-minute drive.
Medical marijuana is only available to Georgians with physician approval and for specific illnesses and conditions, including seizures, terminal cancers, Parkinson’s disease, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Low THC oil can have no more than 5% THC—the active compound.
To purchase the product at pharmacies, patients will be required to show a state-issued low-THC oil registry card and identification. The drug is required to be kept securely with other prescription medications.
The Georgia General Assembly approved the distribution of low-THC oil a few years ago; however, creating regulations for safety, inspections, licensing, and distribution has taken a while. Last month, Governor Brian Kemp approved rules that were then passed by the Georgia Board of Pharmacy, allowing pharmacy sales to begin.
“We’re going to have patients that need this healthcare in some remote parts of Georgia that probably would never have a dispensary near them,” Jonathan Marquess, PharmD, VP of the Georgia Pharmacy Association and the owner of several pharmacies in the Atlanta area, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “But they do have a caring professional, a knowledgeable professional pharmacist, in their communities who can talk to them.”
Another company, Trulieve, which is also licensed by the state to produce medical marijuana, has yet to disclose how many pharmacies would sell its products.
An estimated 400 independent pharmacies are in Georgia. The product will not be sold in the state by national chain drugstores such as CVS and Walgreens.
The Georgia Board of Pharmacy said pharmacists must physically view and inspect the patients’ identification and patient registry products, verifying their validity, before dispensing low-THC products.
In addition, before dispensing the low-THC product, a Georgia licensed pharmacist must review the drug label to make sure it includes information on the patient, the caregiver if applicable, and directions for use.
The pharmacy board also emphasized the importance of disposing of all outdated and deteriorated stock of low THC.
All pharmacies participating in the program must have computer or electronic access to keep up on issues such as drug interactions, patient counseling, compounding and pharmaceutical calculations, and generic substitution.
Pharmacies also must conspicuously post the telephone number of a poison control center where the cannabis products are dispensed, according to the Georgia Board of Pharmacy.
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