Georgia's 1st Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Open

GEORGIA — Residents in Macon and Marietta welcomed the Peach State's first medical cannabis dispensaries Friday — a historic move since Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law the production and sale of marijuana oil in April 2019.

Trulieve Cannabis, which operates in 11 states, held grand opening celebrations for the new facilities. The national company opened at 3556 Riverside Drive in Macon and 220 Cobb Parkway North in Marietta.

"I'm proud to open two dispensaries in both Macon and Marietta for patients to begin receiving the medicine they need," Lisa Pinkney, president of Trulieve Georgia, said in a news release. "I also want to congratulate the commission along with the whole Trulieve Georgia team on reaching this milestone after the hard work to date and thank both teams for moving expeditiously to approve the dispensary application and conduct the dispensary inspections."

According to its website, Trulieve hand-grows its marijuana plants in a controlled environment. Its dispensaries offer oral, topical and sublingual products.

"Today is a new beginning for the over 27,000 registered medical patients Georgia," Kim Rivers, chief executive officer of Trulieve, said in the release. "Trulieve is equally thrilled and humbled to bring the first two medical cannabis dispensaries in the state serving both Macon and Marietta communities in their health and wellness journey."

Kemp's medical marijuana law took effect July 1, 2019, reversing a 2015 ban on growing, buying and selling cannabis in Georgia though specific patients could possess it, The Associated Press reported.

Six private companies were granted growing licenses, and the law gave pharmacies priority for distributing cannabis, the AP reported.

Representatives for Trulieve said there are plans to open three additional dispensaries in Columbus, Newnan and Pooler this year.