CBD (Cannabidiol) is the current medical trend in treating patients. As more cancer patients are being diagnosed, more alternatives are searched for relief. Contrary to public sentiment, the state of GA was one of the first states to allow medical cannabis low-thc oil as it implemented a "medical necessity”.
In 1981, Georgia legislature passed the MMNA (Medical Marijuana Necessity Act) to establish a Patient Qualification Review Board (PQRB) to undertake clinical trials and provide cannabis treatment to cancer and glaucoma patients. However, after the political climate quickly shifted against marijuana under the President Ronald Reagan Administration, the trials were de-funded. The state has continued to fail to implement the law, until recently.
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal announced in April 2015 his support for clinical research by signing a law (Haleigh's Hope Act) that would investigate the use of CBD, a non-psychoactive component of the cannabis (marijuana) plant, and develop rigorous data that will inform and expand the scientific community’s understanding of potential treatments. However, the lack of a regulated, obtainable CBD distribution network makes the law appear not as effective.
Rep. Allen Peake's compassion to help needing families stuck in legislative limbo speaks the ambition that many may feel when wanting to make a change for the better. Peake, a Republican from Macon who authored Georgia's legislation, said the steady number of over 2,000 sign-ups of
MMJ cards is more reason for the state to allow production of medical marijuana products. Peake revealed recently that he plays a key role in helping some Georgians get the allotted 20 ounces of cannabis oil.
This law also allows the University System of Georgia to develop a low-THC oil clinical research program in compliance with federal regulations. Augusta, GA is the home of GA's CBD oil production as the medical center there tests samples coming from the U.K.-based GW pharmaceuticals. The state of Georgia, along with GW Pharmaceuticals, and officials at Augusta University have been working together since May to begin a study with GW’s investigational cannabidiol (CBD) product Epidiolex, which has promising data to treat two rare and severe forms of childhood epilepsy; Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
While CBD products are legal in all 50 states if they are derived from an industrial hemp, one of the most exciting benefits of CBD would be its role in treating cancer. The American Association for Cancer Research found that CBD destroys breast cancer cells through programmed cell death. CBD has also demonstrated to inhibit or stop the growth of cancers in the liver, brain, skin, and adrenal glands. In addition, CBD is effective at treating the many cancer and treatment-related side effects like nausea, pain, loss of appetite, insomnia, anxiety, depression. There are numerous, hopeful personal accounts of people who have treated their cancer symptoms with cannabis, and while promising, the science is still early. Research has largely been limited due to federal regulations, yet rigorous studies are being done in order to push the science forward and further the role of cannabis in the medical mainstream.
-Joseph McCrary