The Georgia program
Legal products & how to use them
Since July 1, 2026, Georgia patients can choose from a real range of medical cannabis — oils, capsules, lozenges, topicals, patches, and (new under SB 220) vaporizers and flower. Here’s what each one is, how to use it, and how to dose safely.
Educational, not medical advice. Verified as of 2026-06-28 — talk with your physician and dispensary pharmacist.
The product forms
-
Oils & tinctures
Liquid cannabis extract in a dropper bottle, labeled by CBD:THC ratio.
How to use: Place drops under the tongue (sublingual) for faster onset, or add to a drink (slower).
-
Capsules & softgels
Pre-measured oil in a swallowable capsule — consistent, discreet dosing.
How to use: Swallow like any pill. Slowest onset, longest effect — wait the full 2 hours before re-dosing.
-
Lozenges & troches
Flavored, gummy-textured dissolvables held in the mouth (e.g. a 1:20 watermelon troche).
How to use: Hold in the cheek or under the tongue to dissolve slowly. See “about those gummies” below.
-
Vaporizers & flower
Oil cartridges and dry-herb flower, heated to vapor (not burned). New under SB 220.
How to use: Inhale vapor for the fastest onset. Patients 21+, in private only. Smoking is still illegal.
-
Topicals
Cannabis-infused creams and lotions for a specific area.
How to use: Rub onto the skin for localized relief. Generally non-intoxicating.
-
Transdermal patches
Adhesive skin patches that release cannabinoids over time.
How to use: Apply to skin for steady, extended-release dosing.
-
Nasal spray
A metered spray delivering oil to the nasal lining.
How to use: Spray intranasally for rapid onset without inhalation.
About those “gummies”
Georgia does sell flavored, gummy‑textured products — but they’re called lozenges or troches, not gummies or edibles. The distinction is legal, not cosmetic: Georgia prohibits cannabis‑infused food products, but a troche is a dissolvable oral medicine held in the mouth — an approved dosage form of low‑THC oil. So a “1:20 watermelon troche” is functionally gummy‑like (flavored, chewable, a fixed mg of THC) yet legally a medicated lozenge.
Don’t confuse these with the hemp‑derived gummies sold to the general 21+ public — those are a separate, lower‑potency line (under 0.3% delta‑9 THC) and not part of the medical program. Sources: Cannabis Business Times · GMCC.
Dosing: start low, go slow
More THC isn’t more relief. Begin with the smallest dose, wait the full onset window, and only then consider more. Many patients find lasting relief at just 2.5–5 mg.
Onset & duration by method
| Method | Onset | Lasts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaporizer (cart or dry-herb) | Within minutes | ~2–4 hrs | Fastest onset — easiest to titrate. Wait 10–15 min between draws. |
| Tincture (under the tongue) | 15–45 min | ~4–6 hrs | Hold ~60 sec before swallowing for faster effect. |
| Lozenge / troche | 15–45 min | ~4–6+ hrs | Mixed absorption — partly mouth, partly digestion. |
| Capsule (swallowed) | 30 min–2 hrs | 6–8+ hrs | Slowest, longest. Highest risk of stacking — wait the full 2 hrs. |
Vaping: how much per puff?
- A single ~3-second draw delivers roughly 3–5 mg THC (varies by device and temperature).
- One short puff is a full starting dose. Take it, wait 10–15 minutes, then decide on another. Fast onset makes vaping the easiest method to dose precisely.
- Cartridges typically hold 500–1,000 mg total THC — use that to gauge your daily draws.
- Dry-herb vaporizers: dose by temperature and a small chamber load; start low and lower temps for milder vapor.
Sources: GMCC · Georgia DPH · NORML on SB 220. Dosing figures are general clinical guidance, not Georgia mandates — confirm with your provider. The 12,000 mg possession figure and finalized product rules should be re-verified against the Commission at publish time.