GMCS Research Initiative

Georgia Medical Cannabis Patient Access, Outcomes & Product Consistency Study

Documenting what Georgia medical cannabis patients and caregivers experience in the real world.

Data Collection Complete — Study Results Available

Study period: April 9–August 18, 2026 · N = 94 participants · Manuscript Draft — Publication Status Pending

What This Study Will Examine

The proposed study will collect patient-reported information across key areas of the Georgia medical cannabis experience:

Access to Georgia's medical cannabis program
Patient registration and certification experiences
Provider access and healthcare-provider communication
Affordability and geographic access
Dispensary and product availability
Product-selection education
Certificates of Analysis and laboratory-information awareness
Patient confidence in product labeling and testing
Patient-reported product consistency
Routes of administration
Patient-reported treatment outcomes and side effects
Quality of life and medication-reduction experiences
Stigma and employment concerns
Unmet patient needs and priorities for program improvement

Important note on product consistency data: The survey may collect patient-reported product consistency information. Patient-reported data does not prove contamination, mislabeling, potency inaccuracies or laboratory-quality failures. A future Product Consistency / Quality Study could incorporate independent laboratory testing if a qualified laboratory partner, proper protocol, funding and appropriate research oversight are established.

Study Design

Cross-sectional patient-reported online survey.

Potential Future Phases

•Longitudinal patient-reported outcomes and real-world evidence tracking
•Independent product analysis, pending legal review, protocol development, research oversight and qualified laboratory participation

Potential Research Collaborators

•Academic researchers and public-health researchers
•Healthcare professionals and cannabis research organizations
•Patient organizations and technology/data platforms
•Independent laboratories

GMCS is evaluating qualified technology and data platforms to support patient-reported outcomes collection. No technology partnership has been finalized.

Who Can Participate

Age 18 or older
Georgia resident, or caregiver responding for a Georgia patient
Uses or has recently used cannabis for a health or wellness purpose

The survey includes people registered in Georgia's medical cannabis program as well as patients who are not registered, so that barriers to program participation can also be examined. The survey does not ask participants to identify illegal sellers, sources or individuals.

Survey Sections

The survey covers 13 sections. All sections except eligibility are optional.

1.Eligibility & Participant Information
2.Georgia Medical Cannabis Program Access
3.Healthcare Provider Access
4.Medical Cannabis Use
5.Patient-Reported Outcomes
6.Affordability & Geographic Access
7.Product Availability & Consistency
8.Product Education, COAs & Testing Confidence
9.Employment, Stigma & Patient Rights
10.Patient Priorities
11.Demographic Context
12.Optional Open Comment
13.Completion / Separate Results Signup

Study Results Are Available

View the headline findings or get the expanded results brief. You can also sign up to receive future research updates.

Study results are now available.

94 patients and caregivers participated. View the headline findings, access barriers, and policy implications from Georgia's 2026 medical cannabis patient citizen-science survey.

View Study Results Get the Results Brief

Stay informed about future research:

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