Is weed legal in Georgia? Here's what to know about marijuana laws in the Peach State

The number of states that have legalized recreational marijuana has risen to over 20 in the last decade.

But Georgia is not one of them.

Recent bills introduced in the Georgia General Assembly seeking to legalize personal marijuana have not advanced.

President Joe Biden issued a proclamation in October that pardons those who received federal convictions for simple possession of marijuana. Biden's pardons do not include state-level convictions, though he did urge governors to pardon state offenders.

Federal reform Biden’s marijuana reform could be first major step toward legalization

Municipalities decriminalize possessionAthens-Clarke commission eliminates jail time, sets $35 fine for marijuana possession

Savannah's ordinanceSavannah marijuana possession ordinance change keeping people out of jail

Here’s what to know about marijuana in the Peach State:

Is marijuana legal in Georgia?

Georgia's medical marijuana law allows qualified persons to possess low-THC oil, but possession of the drug in any other form or for recreational use is a crime. The penalty for possessing less than one ounce of marijuana is up to one year in prison and up to a $1,000 fine.

However, some Georgia municipalities have enacted ordinances that eliminate jail time and establish fees for offenders caught with less than one ounce of marijuana. For example, the city of Savannah issues $150 citations, while Athens' violators face a $35 fine.

Other municipalities doing away with jail time and instead issue fines from $75 to $500 for misdemeanor marijuana possession include:

• Atlanta

• Macon-Bibb

• Statesboro

• Tybee Island

• Clarkston

• Chamblee

• Forest Park

• Kingsland

• South Fulton

Is weed medicinally legal in Georgia?

Yes, but there are strict limitations. Georgia’s medical marijuana law allows certain qualified persons to possess up to 20 fluid ounces of low-THC oil, derived from marijuana plants. The law also prohibits physicians from prescribing marijuana for medical use.

Are edibles legal in Georgia?

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia's medical marijuana law does not allow for the production or sale of food products infused with low-THC oil or the ingestion of low-THC oil through vapor.

Can you smoke weed in public in Georgia?

No, it is illegal to possess and smoke marijuana in public in the Peach State.

Is weed federally legal?

On Oct. 6, President Biden announced he was pardoning people with federal convictions for simple possession of marijuana, USA TODAY reported.

The president's pardon also blocks future federal prosecutions for simple possession.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Marijuana, edibles legal in GA? Everything you need to know