Autism Legislation Attached to Amended Medical Marijuana Bill

With next Thursday scheduled as the last day of this year’s legislative session, Peake told supporters it was an important victory.             

“We’re getting there. Whether we get there by Thursday, there’s still some big hurdles to overcome so stay engaged. Thank you all. Leave here enthusiastic,” said Peake.

Moments before, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee combined Peake’s bill with SB 397, which mandates private health insurers cover autism treatment.

The autism bill sailed through the Senate, but has stalled in the House.

Senate health committee chair Renee Unterman, R-Buford, had stated in frank terms the medical marijuana bill would be held in committee until she saw movement on the autism bill, of which she’s a co-sponsor.

By combining the contents of SB 397 to HB 885, the autism legislation bypasses the House committee process.

Pending approval from the full Senate, the new HB 885 is expected to come down to a conference committee between House and Senate leaders.

Meanwhile, the Senate committee also amended language in the medical marijuana bill to include full legal immunity for anyone caught with cannabidiol in Georgia.

Originally, academic research centers such as Emory University were to grow and dispense the cannabidiol. But questions remain over whether the research centers would lose federal grant money for doing so.

Under the immunity amendment, those who get cannabidiol from states where it’s decriminalized, like Colorado, would be able to return to Georgia and keep it in their possession without fear of arrest. However, there still would be a risk of arrest traveling through states that haven’t taken such legislative action.