Georgia is now accepting applications from companies that want to cultivate cannabis and manufacture low-THC oil for the state’s registered medical cannabis patients, according to Saporta Report.

The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission met Nov. 23 to approve the application forms, and Andrew Turnage, the commission’s executive director, told Saporta Report that there is a social equity component to the licensing process.

“We want to encourage minority-, women- and veteran-owned business to look at this commission as an opportunity that they want to invest in and grow a business in,” Turnage said.

Although state lawmakers have not established formal social equity regulations, the commission plans to gather data from applicants for a disparity study that will determine whether the state is inclusive in its cannabis licensing process, according to Saporta Report.

Applications must be submitted by Dec. 28, and Georgia will ultimately issue a maximum of six cultivation licenses, which will allow a maximum of 400,000 square feet of greenhouse space to be cultivated in the state. Up to four licensees will be authorized to grow up to 50,000 square feet of cannabis, while up to two licensees will be able to grow up to 100,000 square feet.

Patients enrolled in Georgia’s medical cannabis program have been legally allowed to possess and use medical cannabis oil since 2015, but the sale or transportation of the oil was prohibited until Gov. Brian Kemp signed a law in 2019 that established a regulated system for the production, processing and sale of the oil.

RELATED: Georgia Will Now Allow the Production and Sale of Low-THC Medical Cannabis Oil

State lawmakers established much of the regulatory framework for the cultivation of cannabis in the state, but left decisions on distribution and dispensaries up to the commission, according to Saporta Report.