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Is weed legal in Georgia after Trump signs order to reclassify marijuana?

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Is weed legal in Georgia after Trump signs order to reclassify marijuana?


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President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday, Dec. 18, reclassifying marijuana as a Scheduled III narcotic, a drop from the more severe Scheduled I narcotic it had been classified in for nearly 6 decades.

Since 1970, marijuana has been classified as a Schedule I drug, the same category as heroin, LSD, methaqualone and ecstasy. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) describes Schedule I substances as having no “medical use and a high potential for abuse.”

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A review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found “scientific support for its use to treat anorexia related to a medical condition, nausea and vomiting, and pain,” Trump said in the executive order.

That review came after former President Joe Biden suggested his administration take a look at reclassifying the drug in 2023. The Department of Health and Human Services also recommended that year that marijuana be reclassified based on widespread use of medical marijuana across 43 U.S. jurisdictions for more than 6 million registered patients to treat at least 15 medical conditions, the EO said.

Is marijuana now legal in Georgia?

Not yet. In fact, it’s only in the infancy of review at the federal level. Lawmakers in Georgia will have to decide if it will allow marijuana at a state level.

Many states, however, 24 to be exact, have already legalized marijuana before Trump’s order, although Georgia remains on the sidelines.

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While 24 states have adopted laws allowing adults to purchase and consume cannabis for non-medical use, Georgia continues to prohibit it.

But what does the Peach State allow medically?

Has Georgia legalized recreational marijuana?

No, Georgia does not allow adult-use of cannabis.

According to NORML, possession for personal use, even under an ounce, is punishable as a misdemeanor with up to 12 months in jail or up to a $1,000 fine.

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Possessing more than an ounce is a felony, carrying penalties of 1 to 10 years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.

Does Georgia allow marijuana medically?

Georgia allows marijuana for medical purposes only, and exclusively in the form of low-THC oil (5% THC or less). Registered patients can possess up to 20 fluid ounces.

What states have legalized recreational marijuana?

According to U.S. News and World Report, here are the 24 states to legalize marijuana:

  • Washington (as of 2012)
  • Alaska (as of 2014)
  • Oregon (as of 2014)
  • California (as of 2016)
  • Montana (as of 2020)
  • Colorado (as of 2012)
  • Nevada (as of 2016)
  • Arizona (as of 2020)
  • New Mexico (as of 2021)
  • Minnesota (as of 2023)
  • Missouri (as of 2022)
  • Illinois (as of 2019)
  • Michigan (as of 2018)
  • Ohio (as of 2023)
  • Virginia (as of 2021)
  • Maryland (as of 2023)
  • Maine (as of 2016)
  • Delaware (as of 2023)
  • New Jersey (as of 2020)
  • New York (as of 2021)
  • Vermont (as of 2018)
  • Massachusetts (as of 2016)
  • Rhode Island (as of 2022)
  • Connecticut (as of 2021)

For more information, visit usnews.com/news.

C.A. Bridges is a trending reporter for Florida Connect.

Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.

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Augusta, GA

Georgia governor candidate Olu Brown campaigns in Augusta

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Georgia governor candidate Olu Brown campaigns in Augusta


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Olu Brown visited Augusta on Friday evening, stopping near the Sand Hills Community Center as early voting continues.

Brown is one of six candidates in the Democratic primary.

Campaign priorities

Brown said his vision as governor would focus on three main areas.

“One, it’s affordability around health care and making sure we expand Medicaid and expand Peach Care and make sure we continue to make our rural health care systems healthy and vital,” Brown said. “Number two, we’ve got to address education in all of Georgia, making sure every kid in Georgia gets an excellent education, and we’re paying our teachers more. And number 3, we’re protecting the rights of all women. Folks in the Gold Dome shouldn’t be making decisions about their bodies or the choices that they make.”

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Brown is running against Amanda Duffy, Derrick Jackson, Geoff Duncan, Jason Esteves, Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mike Thurmond.

Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.



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Augusta, GA

Augusta Prep student arrested over picture of LEGO gun, threat he called a joke

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Augusta Prep student arrested over picture of LEGO gun, threat he called a joke


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta Prep student was arrested on a charge of terroristic threats over a picture of a LEGO gun he posted on social media.

It happened Wednesday, according to an incident report from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

Eric Hedinger, the principal of Augusta Preparatory Day School, told deputies a student had uploaded a picture to Snapchat of a “pistol” with the caption “shooting up the school so I don`t have to take the stats exam tomorrow. Don`t come yall!”

The principal said he spoke to the student and his father about the photo.

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The principal also provided deputies with the student’s address in Grovetown.

A deputy went there and was told by the student that the “pistol” was a LEGO set that he had built.

He also said the comment he made was supposed to be a joke because he was not looking forward to taking his Advanced Placement statistics test this week.

The student showed the deputy the box that the LEGO set came in, and how the set was already disassembled.

The deputy also looked in the boy’s room to make sure he was not in possession of any weapons.

The mother advised that there was one firearm in the residence but it was locked up.

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The deputy contacted Judge Leslie Morgan and she issued a warrant for terroristic threats.

The student, age 18, was taken into custody and transported to the Columbia County Detention Center.

News 12 is not reporting his name or publishing his photo since the LEGO gun could not have actually harmed anyone.

Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.



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Augusta, GA

Man wanted for Augusta child cruelty case, considered armed and dangerous

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Man wanted for Augusta child cruelty case, considered armed and dangerous


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a wanted man.

35-year-old Oniel Gary Cameron is wanted for an incident that occurred on Bridgewater Drive in Augusta Thursday.

Authorities say his charges include:

  • Cruelty to children 3rd Degree
  • Criminal Damage to Property 1st Degree
  • Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

Cameron reportedly has warrants on file with RCSO and is known to drive a black Toyota Seqoia with a Georgia tag of D-E-E-8-6-7-2.

He is believed to be Armed and Dangerous.

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Anyone that comes into contact with Cameron or has any information on his location is urged to call the Richmond County Sheriff’s office at 706-821-1020 or 706-821-1080.



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