Carroll County Cannabis – Is It Legal & Where To Buy 2025

Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in Carroll County?

Licensed cannabis cultivation in Carroll County is legal if it contains less than 5% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and is used for medical purposes as stipulated by the State of Georgia’s House Bill 324 (HB 324) passed in April 2019 and called Georgia’s Hope Act. HB 324 came after House Bill 1 (HB 1), called Haleigh’s Hope Act, legalized the medical use of low-THC cannabis oil in 2015.

The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission (GMCC) is the regulatory and licensing body created by HB 324 for businesses related to low-THC medical cannabis. A Class 1 or Class 2 production license must be acquired from the GMCC to grow low-THC medical cannabis in Carroll County legally. However, as early as January 27, 2021, applications closed.

Low-THC medical cannabis production licenses granted throughout the state are limited by HB 324 to six, divided into two Class 1 licenses and four Class 2 licenses. The Class 1 licenses were already issued by the GMCC on September 21, 2022, and the licensees were given a year to begin their full operations so as not to forfeit their respective licenses. As of August 2023, no Class 2 licenses have been issued.

All low-THC medical cannabis production licensees are restricted to indoor cannabis cultivation only. A maximum growth space of 100,000 square feet is allowed for Class 1 licensees, while only up to 50,000 square feet is allowed for Class 2 licensees.

The fees that are charged to Class 1 low-THC medical cannabis production applicants and licensees are as follows:

The fees charged to Class 2 low-THC medical cannabis production applicants and licensees are as follows:

A licensee may only sell the production license five years after its granting by the GMCC.

Any facility of a low-THC medical cannabis production licensee must be separated from a school, church, or childcare establishment by over 3,000 feet. Inspections to be done by the Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Agency, GMCC, and county and municipal authorities must be accommodated.

Class 1 and Class 2 low-THC medical cannabis production licensees are prohibited by HB 324 from applying to their cannabis crops pesticides that are under regulation by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Licensed cultivators are only allowed to use organic pesticides.

Moreover, all classes of low-THC medical cannabis production licensees are required to establish a GMCC-approved tracking system for the monitoring and documentation of all cultivation activities, such as trimming, drying, curing, and waste disposal.

Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in Carroll County?

Licensed cannabis oil and product manufacturing in Carroll County is legal if the cannabis oil and products have low-THC content and are for medical use in accordance with the State of Georgia’s HB 324 and HB 1. To operate in Carroll County, low-THC medical cannabis manufacturers are also required to have a Class 1 or Class 2 production license issued by the GMCC. These are the same licenses that likewise authorize cultivation. Therefore, all the requirements and regulations discussed above apply, as well. The tracking system must include the monitoring and documentation of all low-THC medical cannabis oil and product inventory, sales, returns, and waste disposal.

The following forms of low-THC medical cannabis may be processed by Class 1 and Class 2 production licensees:

• Oils
• Tinctures
• Capsules
• Transdermal patches
• Lotions

Low-THC medical cannabis production licensees are, however, not allowed to process forms of cannabis that are either edible or meant for use through vaping or electronic cigarettes.

To screen out contamination, all batches of low-THC medical cannabis oil and products processed by a production licensee must undergo sample testing by an independent laboratory approved by the GMCC before they can be sold to licensed low-THC medical cannabis dispensaries. Failed batches must be completely destroyed and proof of such destruction must be made available to the GMCC when requested.

Is Cannabis Retail Legal in Carroll County?

Licensed cannabis retail in Carroll County is legal for low-THC medical cannabis oil and products under HB 324 and HB 1 of the State of Georgia. The GMCC issues the low-THC medical cannabis dispensary license that is required to sell retail medical cannabis oil and products to medical cannabis cardholders legally.

Low-THC medical cannabis dispensary licenses granted across the state are restricted by HB 324 to five for each Class 1 and Class 2 production licensee, as stated in the GMCC Annual Report for 2023. A sixth dispensary license may be granted to each when the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) Low THC Oil Registry lists 25,000 patients. Afterward, an additional dispensary license may be granted whenever the registry adds 10,000 patients.

On March 9, 2023, the number of patients on the registry reached 27,257. This prompted the GMCC to grant six low-THC medical cannabis dispensary licenses to each of the two Class 1 low-THC medical cannabis production licensees. None, however, were located in Carroll County.

The low-THC medical cannabis production licensees that are eligible for low-THC medical cannabis dispensary licenses must still apply for these from the GMCC. The fees charged vary depending on the county tier of the intended dispensary location. Carrol County is a Tier 3 county. The fees per tier are as follows:

Any facility of a low-THC medical cannabis dispensary licensee must be separated from a school, church, or daycare establishment by over 1,000 feet. The inventory tracking system required from licensed low-THC medical cannabis producers also applies to low-THC medical cannabis dispensaries.

Only the low-THC medical cannabis oil and products that licensed producers are allowed to process may be sold by a licensed low-THC medical cannabis dispensary. A medical cannabis cardholder may purchase in every transaction a cap of 20 fluid ounces in low-THC medical cannabis oil or its equivalent in products.

Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in Carroll County?

There is no mention in the State of Georgia’s HB 324 or HB 1 about the delivery of low-THC medical cannabis oil and products to medical cannabis cardholders, even by licensed dispensaries. However, HB 324 allows licensed medical cannabis facilities to transfer low-THC medical cannabis oil and products from one to another.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Carroll County

The first step that residents of Carroll County must take to get a medical cannabis card is to print the Low-THC Oil Physician Certification and Low-THC Oil Waiver from the Low-THC Oil Registry. These must be taken to the state-licensed physician who provides them with medical care, and who must be enrolled in the registry.

The patient must sign the waiver before submitting both papers to the physician. The certification will be signed by the physician only if the patient is found to have one of these qualifying illnesses:

• Seizure disorders
• Mitochondrial disease
• Autism spectrum disorder in patients aged at least 18
• Illnesses requiring hospice care
• PTSD from trauma in patients aged at least 18
• Epidermolysis bullosa
• Severe autism in patients below 18
• Severe Tourette’s syndrome
• Intractable pain
• Crohn’s disease
• AIDS (end-stage or severe)
• Parkinson’s disease (end-stage or severe)
• Peripheral neuropathy (end-stage or severe)
• Multiple sclerosis (end-stage or severe)
• Cancer (end-stage or with cachexia or intractable nausea and vomiting from treatment)
• Sickle cell disease (end-stage or severe)
• Alzheimer’s disease (end-stage or severe)
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (end-stage or severe)

The physician will indicate in the certification the need for a caregiver for patients younger than 18 or adult patients who require assistance. Upon the patient’s request, copies of the certification and the waiver may be provided.

The medical cannabis card of the State of Georgia is valid for two years. The processing period is approximately 15 days. The patient and caregiver can pick up the card and each pay the $25 fee at the Carroll County public health office.

Queries may be made through the following channels:

*Georgia DPH Low THC Oil Unit *

Phone: (770) 909-2765

Email: THCRegistry@dph.ga.gov

How Has Cannabis Legalization Impacted the Economy of Carroll County?

HB 324 levied the State of Georgia’s sales and use tax on all low-THC medical cannabis oil and low-THC medical cannabis product retail purchases of medical cannabis cardholders. From July 1 to September 30, 2023, this is at 4% based on the General Rate Chart of the Georgia Department of Revenue.

According to the GMCC Annual Report for 2023, in addition to tax revenues, the state gained as of January 1, 2023, license fees from Class 1 low-THC medical cannabis producers amounting to $400,000. For the fiscal year 2023, the GMCC projected $1.28 million in state earnings from low-THC medical cannabis license fees.

The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in Carroll County

Medical cannabis was legalized in Carroll County in 2015, although the sales of low-THC medical cannabis oil and its products began only in 2023.

Data sent by the Carroll County Sheriff's Office to the Crime Explorer page of the FBI shows that in 2014, a year before the legalization of medical cannabis, there were 98 marijuana possession arrests and nine marijuana sales arrests, totaling 107 marijuana offense arrests.

In 2016, a year after the legalization of medical cannabis, there were 53 marijuana possession arrests and nine marijuana sales arrests, totaling 62 marijuana offense arrests.

In 2019, there were 21 marijuana possession arrests and one marijuana sales arrest, totaling 22 marijuana offense arrests.

In 2021, the latest data showed 25 marijuana possession arrests and 13 marijuana sales arrests, totaling 38 marijuana offense arrests.

The number of DUI arrests in those years was as follows:

• 2014: 39 arrests
• 2016: 28 arrests
• 2019: 15 arrests
• 2021: 60 arrests