Georgia Qualifying Conditions: Detailed Guide
About the Qualifying Medical Conditions
Below is information about each of the 17 qualifying conditions and the hospice eligibility pathway, with the research that informed Georgia's inclusion of each in the state program.
Cancer (any cancer except non-metastatic skin cancer)
Cancer is the most-expanded qualifying condition under SB 220. The legacy statute required cancer to be "end stage" or to produce treatment-related wasting/nausea before a patient could qualify. SB 220 removed those qualifiers entirely, opening the program to nearly all cancer diagnoses (the lone exception is non-metastatic skin cancer). Georgia's inclusion is supported by systematic reviews of cannabinoid use among cancer patients for pain, nausea, and appetite.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) - severe or end stage
ALS is an approved qualifying condition when severe or end stage. SB 220 retained this severity qualifier. Georgia's inclusion is supported by research surveying ALS patients about cannabinoid-based symptom management.
Seizure Disorders (epilepsy or trauma-related head injuries)
Seizure disorders, including epilepsy and seizure activity caused by trauma-related head injuries, are approved qualifying conditions. This is the foundational condition the program was built around (the original 2015 Haleigh's Hope Act was named after a young patient with severe epilepsy). Inclusion is supported by clinical trial research examining CBD in patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - severe or end stage
MS is an approved qualifying condition when severe or end stage. SB 220 retained this severity qualifier. Georgia's inclusion is supported by clinical research examining cannabinoid use in MS patients with spasticity and related neurological symptoms.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
SB 220 renamed the prior "Crohn's Disease" entry to "Inflammatory Bowel Disease," which now covers both Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis under one statutory entry. Inclusion is supported by clinical research examining cannabis use in patients with inflammatory bowel conditions.
Mitochondrial Disease
Mitochondrial disease is an approved qualifying condition. This was one of the original conditions included under the 2015 Haleigh's Hope Act to support pediatric and rare-disease patients who often experience severe seizure activity and neurodegeneration alongside the underlying mitochondrial dysfunction.
Parkinson's Disease - severe or end stage
Parkinson's Disease is an approved qualifying condition when severe or end stage. SB 220 retained this severity qualifier. Inclusion is supported by research examining cannabinoid use among Parkinson's patients for tremor, rigidity, and sleep disturbance.
Sickle Cell Disease - severe or end stage
Sickle Cell Disease is an approved qualifying condition when severe or end stage. SB 220 retained this severity qualifier. Inclusion supports patients managing chronic pain from vaso-occlusive crises.
Tourette's Syndrome - severe
Tourette's Syndrome is an approved qualifying condition when diagnosed as severe. SB 220 retained the severity qualifier. Inclusion is supported by clinical research examining THC use in patients with Tourette's.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (adults 18+, or minors with severe autism)
Autism Spectrum Disorder is an approved qualifying condition for adults 18 and older, and for minors with severe autism. SB 220 retained the age-based qualifier. Inclusion supports adult ASD patients managing co-occurring anxiety, sensory processing concerns, and sleep disturbance.
Epidermolysis Bullosa
Epidermolysis Bullosa is an approved qualifying condition. This rare genetic skin disorder was included to support pediatric and adult patients managing the chronic, severe pain associated with the disease's recurrent wound formation.
Alzheimer's Disease - severe or end stage
Alzheimer's Disease is an approved qualifying condition when severe or end stage. SB 220 retained the severity qualifier. Inclusion is supported by research examining cannabinoid use among Alzheimer's patients for agitation and sleep disturbance.
HIV Stage III
SB 220 renamed the prior "AIDS, severe or end stage" entry to "HIV Stage III" to align with the federal HIV staging framework used by the CDC and the U.S. Public Health Service. Stage III HIV is the clinical stage that corresponds to the historical AIDS diagnosis (CD4 count below 200 cells/µL or a Stage-III-defining opportunistic illness). Inclusion is supported by research examining cannabinoid use among patients with advanced HIV for appetite, nausea, and peripheral neuropathy.
Peripheral Neuropathy - severe or end stage
Peripheral Neuropathy is an approved qualifying condition when severe or end stage. SB 220 retained the severity qualifier. Inclusion is supported by research examining vaporized cannabis in patients with neuropathic pain.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD, patients 18+)
PTSD is an approved qualifying condition for patients 18 years of age or older. SB 220 retained the age qualifier. Inclusion is supported by research examining cannabinoid use among patients with PTSD.
Intractable Pain (with strict statutory definition)
Intractable Pain is an approved qualifying condition, with a strict statutory definition added by SB 220: a pain state where the cause cannot be removed and where the patient has used the full range of pain management for 6 months or more without adequate results or with intolerable side effects. This definition is meaningfully tighter than the generic "chronic pain" qualifier used in most other state programs. Inclusion is supported by systematic reviews of cannabinoid use among patients with chronic pain conditions.
Lupus
Lupus is a newly added qualifying condition under SB 220. The statute does not impose a severity qualifier on the lupus entry, so patients with a documented lupus diagnosis (systemic lupus erythematosus or related lupus variants) are eligible. Inclusion supports patients managing autoimmune flares, joint pain, fatigue, and skin involvement.
Hospice Patients (separate eligibility pathway)
Under §31-2A-18(d), patients who are receiving hospice care (either inpatient or outpatient) qualify for the Medical Cannabis Registry without needing a separate qualifying-condition diagnosis. This is a distinct statutory eligibility pathway, not a recognized condition. Hospice eligibility was carried forward from prior law and retained under SB 220.
Petition Process for Adding Qualifying Conditions
- How to Petition: Residents can submit a petition to the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission to request new medical conditions be added. Each petition should include medical documentation and scientific research.
- Review Timeline: Petitions are typically reviewed within 180 days.
Medical Disclaimer
This page provides information about Georgia's qualifying conditions for medical cannabis oil. The inclusion of a condition in Georgia's program does not constitute medical advice or a guarantee of therapeutic benefit. Individual results vary. Potential side effects may include dizziness, sedation, and cognitive changes. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making medical decisions.