Is Marijuana Legal in Georgia?

In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalized recreational marijuana use for adults. In the years since, 22 other states passed similar legislation, while several others permit medical marijuana. Is marijuana legal in Georgia for either recreational or medical use?

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Is Marijuana Legal in Georgia?

Is marijuana legal in Georgia? As of the day this post was published, no, marijuana is not legal in Georgia. This prohibition includes both recreational and medical marijuana.

In April 2019, Georgia’s state legislature authorized the creation of the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission. However, this doesn’t mean that you can get weed with a doctor’s authorization. 

The only permissible use of cannabis-related products in Georgia involves a substance called low THC oil, which state law defines as “an oil that contains not more than 5 percent by weight of tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] and an amount of cannabinol [CBN] equal to or greater than the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol.”

Patients or caregivers who qualify for a registry that is managed by the Georgia Department of Health may possess up to 20 ounces of low THC oil.

Will Marijuana Ever Be Legal in Georgia?

It is of course impossible to predict the future, but public opinion throughout the United States is firmly against marijuana prohibition. For example, a recent survey by the Pew Research Center found that 84% of U.S. adults favored some level of marijuana legalization:

• 54% of adults in the U.S. believe that marijuana should be legal for both medical and recreational use.
• 33% of surveyed adults said marijuana should be legal for medical use only.
• 12% of adults think marijuana should be fully outlawed.

Though the Pew Research Center notes that these perspectives on marijuana’s legal status have remained “relatively steady” over the past six years, public opinion about marijuana has shifted dramatically through the decades:

• In 1969, a Gallup poll found that 84% of adults in the U.S. opposed marijuana legalization, while only 12% were in favor.
• As recently as the early 1990s, 81% of surveyed adults opposed legal marijuana, with only 16% expressing support.
• By 2004, opposition to legalized marijuana had dropped to 60%, while those in favor rose to 31%.
• In 2024, 70% of those contacted by Gallup said they approved of legalized marijuana, while 29% of respondents remained opposed.

These national statistics in no way confirm that legal marijuana in Georgia is a foregone conclusion, but local polling conducted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) and the University of Georgia indicates that statewide support is increasing as well:

• In 2017, 46% of Georgia residents said recreational marijuana should be legal for adults.
• In 2023, support for legal marijuana in Georgia had increased to 53%.
• The 2023 survey also revealed that 76% of Georgia residents are in favor of legal medical marijuana in Georgia. 

Which States Have Legalized Marijuana?

Marijuana’s legal status varies throughout the nation:

• Some states have legalized both recreational and medical marijuana, though laws vary regarding who can sell the drug and how much a person can possess.
• Some states only permit medical use by qualified patients. Again, legislation governing the growth, sale, and authorized possession of the drug can vary from state to state.

Also, some states that allow medical marijuana have also decriminalized recreational use. This means that is still illegal to sell weed (except for licensed medical dispensaries), but possession of a small amount of marijuana for personal recreational use has been reduced to a civil violation. 

Civil penalties can include confiscation of the drug, a fine, and possibly a referral to certain services, but they are not considered crimes and do not result in incarceration.

States Where Recreational Marijuana Use is Legal

As of July 2025, the following 24 states had legalized recreational marijuana: 

• Alaska 
• Arizona 
• California 
• Colorado 
• Connecticut 
• Delaware 
• Illinois 
• Maine 
• Maryland 
• Massachusetts 
• Michigan 
• Minnesota 
• Missouri 
• Montana 
• Nevada 
• New Jersey 
• New Mexico 
• New York 
• Ohio 
• Oregon 
• Rhode Island 
• Vermont 
• Virginia
• Washington

Recreational marijuana is also legal in Washington, DC, as well as the territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

In states and most territories that have legalized recreational marijuana, the use of marijuana for medical purposes is also permitted. Recreational marijuana is limited to individuals ages 21 and above, while age requirements for access to medical marijuana may vary from state to state.

States Where Only Medical Marijuana is Legal

Sixteen states and one U.S. territory currently allow medical marijuana, but not recreational use:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Louisiana
• Kentucky
• Mississippi
• Nebraska* 
• New Hampshire
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• South Dakota
• Texas
• Utah
• West Virginia

* In November 2024, 71% of Nebraska approved access to small amounts of medical marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation, but the state legislature has not yet passed the bill that would allow this to occur.

Medical marijuana is also legal in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.

Warning Signs of Marijuana Addiction

Even though marijuana has been legalized or decriminalized in most of the U.S., that doesn’t mean that the drug is harmless. Weed use has been linked to a several long-term health concerns, including respiratory difficulties, cardiovascular problems, gastrointestinal issues, mental illnesses, and an increased risk of some cancers.

Also, contrary to a persistent myth, it is possible to become addicted to marijuana. Symptoms of this condition, which clinicians refer to as cannabis use disorder, include:

• Using marijuana in greater amounts or for a longer period of time than intended
• Developing tolerance, which means you need to use more (or more potent) weed to achieve the effects that you are seeking
• Experiencing powerful cravings or urges to use marijuana
• Spending a considerable amount of time acquiring and using cannabis, and recovering from its effects
• Having problems or failing to meet your responsibilities at home, in school, or at work as a result of your marijuana use
• Continuing to use marijuana even after prior use contributed to health concerns, relationship difficulties, job loss, legal problems, or other harmful outcomes
• Wanting to stop using marijuana but being unable to stay away from the drug

If you have been experiencing any of these warning signs, or if you fear that you have become dependent on cannabis, you should consult with your family doctor or schedule an assessment at a reputable treatment provider near you. With proper care, you can end your marijuana addiction and begin to build a foundation for a much healthier future.

Find Help for Marijuana Addiction in Georgia

Valor Behavioral Health offers personalized care for adults and adolescents who have been struggling with addictions to marijuana and other drugs. We also provide dual diagnosis services for patients who have also been living with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other co-occurring mental health concerns.

Treatment options at our outpatient rehab in Athens, GA, include a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and an outpatient program. At all levels, adolescents and adults receive customized services in separate, age-appropriate environments.

For answers to any questions you may have about our programs and services, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.