Georgia state lawmakers OK medical marijuana as seizure treatment

BY DAVID BEASLEY
ATLANTA Tue Mar 4, 2014 11:35am EST

(Reuters) - A Georgia measure that would legalize use of a liquid, non-intoxicating form of marijuana for patients with severe seizure disorders has been passed by the state House of Representatives with wide support.

Lawmakers approved the legislation on Monday in a 171-4 bipartisan vote, and the bill, which would limit availability of medical marijuana to a handful of research facilities, now goes to the state Senate for consideration.

The measure's sponsor, Republican Representative Allen Peake, said he had become interested in the issue after learning about a constituent's 4-year-old daughter, who suffers from a seizure disorder.

"This really was a human story," Peake said in an interview on Tuesday. "I couldn't be more proud of my colleagues for the courageous vote they cast."

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