Legal status of marijuana in georgia

MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN GEORGIA

The possession of medicinal marijuana products are legal in Georgia.

RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN GEORGIA

On July 30, 2018, Georgia became the first former member of the Soviet Union to legalize marijuana for consumption and possession. As long as a third-party cannot potentially be affected, it is now legal to consume cannabis for personal use without facing repercussions. That means consumption must be kept private, no smoking near schools, around children, or in public in general.

Although cannabis possession and consumption are legal in Georgia, cultivation and sales remain illegal and punishable by law. However, there is a small black market presence in the country that produces marijuana illegally in small amounts, primarily for locals. Moreover, since 2005, Georgia has also served as a transit route for drugs brought from Central Asia to Europe and Russia.

The decision to legalize consumption and possession of marijuana in Georgia came as the Constitutional Court ruled that the laws surrounding personal use were far too strict. In 2017, the use of marijuana as well as other drugs were then decriminalized. Rather than facing lengthy jail sentences, residents would instead pay a $200 fine.

Now, a year later, Georgia holds residents personally responsible for their cannabis use. It is no longer considered a threat to the public.