Kemp signs cannabis-cultivation law

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Six grow licenses to be issued

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Bill closes loophole for those eligible to possess

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Georgia closed an odd loophole in its existing medical marijuana oil law, as Governor Brian Kemp signed a bill that would allow limited cultivation of marijuana within the state to create the medicinal oil.

Or, as less-nuanced headlines would have it, “GEORGIA LEGALIZES MEDICAL MARIJUANA!!!”

Reality: Georgia already allowed people with certain conditions to obtain a license to possess and use low-THC cannabis oil — but there was no legal way for them to actually acquire it. The new law fixes that.

The measure will create a state commission to oversee medical cannabis production and distribution. It will issue up to six licenses to companies to grow marijuana in indoor facilities and turn it into low-THC oil.

The law will also allow the University of Georgia and Fort Valley State University to conduct research on the therapeutic uses of the drug.

The details of pharmacists’ involvement will still need to be worked out, and you can bet we’re keeping a sharp eye on that.

GPhA’s policy has remained consistent: Whatever process is being contemplated related to dispensing
medical marijuana, a licensed pharmacist should be required to be part of that process.

Note: The linked article incorrectly states that “34 states […] have medical marijuana programs.” In fact (plus or minus one or two*)…

• 10 states plus D.C. allow marijuana for recreational use
• 22 states allow marijuana only for medicinal purposes
• 14 states, including Georgia, only allow some form of cannabinoid oil to be used legally

And we’re not going to get into the states that have decriminalized it (i.e., you get a ticket for possession, not an arrest).

* Yes, it’s tough to keep up with the laws, and searching for this info is bound to put us on some sort of government watch list.

A clarification of our statin story

A student pharmacist wrote to us about a piece we published the other day, “Statins don’t help lower cholesterol.” The story was based on a study published in the British Medical Journal, and as this student pointed out, the guidelines there are somewhat different:

NICE guidelines are not practiced in the U.S. –> we use ACC/AHA guidelines and this difference means a lot. In the U.S. we choose statins based on intensities and comorbidities (high, moderate, and low).

High intensity is what would reduce LDL to 50% or more. The NICE guidelines commonly use Atorvastatin 20mg as initial statin treatment for primary prevention and it is considered high intensity for them. This is inaccurate for Americans as our ACC/AHA guidelines state high intensity drugs are Atorvastatin 40-80mg and Rosuvastatin 20-40mg.

Atorvastatin 20mg belongs to moderate intensity group based on ACC/AHA guidelines and knowing this, we wouldn’t expect it to lower LDL by 40% for most patients on it. Moderate intensity statins are expected to lower LDL by 30-49%. Note that the 40% mark being roughly half of what is expected. Exactly as what the article is trying to claim under high intensity when in fact it is not.

Color us impressed — a Georgia student pharmacist (who asked not to be named, in case you’re wondering) pointed out a critical oversight in our reporting.

Elsewhere: Big opioid bust

1. See story, “60 doctors, pharmacists charged in largest US opioid prescription bust.”
2. Click link.
3. Hit Ctrl-F, search for “Georgia.”
4. “Not found.”
5. (whew)

The long read: Oncology and PBMs

The Georgia Society of Clinical Oncology was our good friend as we worked to pass HB233 and HB323 this year. But why, of all specialties, are oncologists working so hard to fight PBM abuses?

“PBM Delays for Cancer Drugs May Risk Lives, Warn Oncologists,” has your answer.