Georgia State Capitol Trip
Photo by Ken Cathcart
On March 24th, 2026 I took a trip to the Georgia State Capitol with some classmates of mine for a college writing course. The course we are taking regards digital communication and throughout the semester we have been focusing on it specifically around state (Georgia) policies. When I first walked into the capital, I was captured by the beauty, art, and structure of the building. After a quick self guided tour to become familiar with the capital, we got to sit in on a committee meeting. This meeting single handedly better helped me understand the moving parts in our Government.
Photos I took at the Capitol!
The topic of conversation in this specific committee meeting was agriculture specifically about THC products in Georgia. One bill was very quickly rejected as the main concern that was mentioned was if the bill would cause Georgia to be unaligned with the federal Government. On a different note, the second bill I watched ended up passing. This bill regards a ban against synthetic THC products.
As THC products have become more common throughout the years, there has been a lot of conversation regarding legality. Senate Bill 220‘s goal is to start restricting synthetic THC products. This bill would make it illegal to have any sort of synthetic THC product, but it doesn’t necessarily ban the distribution of this. When it comes to THC, there are ways these cannabinoids can occur naturally but there are also different ways chemicals are used to create similar products. This bill hopes to deter people from buying any non-natural THC products. The main concern with synthetic THC is health concerns and the risks that come with inhaling unknown chemicals.
After watching this bill get passed, I got to speak with Yolanda Bennett. Bennett is a local Georgian stakeholder who is apart of the Georgia Medical Marijana Society. When speaking with her, she gave me a better understanding of the science and chemical processes of marijana. I was also able to ask her point of view on the passing of this bill. She shared that she is excited about this bill as it helps encourage safer, more natural products. Being a part of the Georgia Medical Marijana Society, Yolanda Bennett supports bills that help people access this important plant that helps with medical issues.
The issue Yolanda Bennett has with Senate Bill 220 is that the wording regarding synthetic THC was not clear. The definition of what a synthetic THC product was hard to understand and could muddy the water when thinking about these products. Though this bill is specifically targeting HHC, a synthetic THC product derived from hemp CBD, the wording seemed as though it could target delta 8 as well. Delta 8 is a semi-synthetic THC product found naturally in the plant but in small amounts leading to its lab creation. In the committee meeting, they discussed the issues with this wording and attempted to clear it up. Bennett is still worried about what this might mean for the cannabis industry.
After my trip, I decided to go to X (formally known as Twitter) to see what the discussion is around Senate Bill 220. The online discourse about this bill is interesting as people still seem confused by the wording. Here, I have two posts that understood the bill very differently.
This user seems to believe that Senate Bill 220 is putting restrictions on the amount of THC allowed in products. When at the meeting, it seemed that they were putting restrictions on synthetic THC products, specifically targeting HHC and not delta 8. Delta 8 is still legal in Georgia as long as it meets it’s requirements regarding percentages and chemical processing.
Drastically different, this user believes the bill will increase the percentage of THC in products. This post also mentions the idea of vaping THC which was brought up at the committee meeting. During the meeting, the consept of vaping seemed to be hard to understand. One great point that was mentioned was how to tell the difference between a nicotine vape versus a THC vape. This is a valid point to challange as some vapes have scannable barcodes that share information about the product. However, some vaping products do not.
Overall, my trip to the captiol was an incredible experience. The discourse over marijuana in Georgia really sparked my interest and has kept me more invested in our Government. It has showed me that wording in bills is something that is very important. Making sure our bills our detailed enough while also understandable is imparative. Even committee members struggle to comprehend what certain bills are stating. It helped me feel more connected and gave me a better understanding of our state and policies.
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