Seizure disorders are where Georgia’s medical cannabis program began. They were among the original qualifying conditions when the state created its registry in 2015, and families living with epilepsy are still among the program’s most engaged patients. This guide explains which seizure-related conditions qualify, the records to bring, the card steps, the interaction and safety questions to raise, what parents and caregivers need to know, and why every decision belongs under a neurologist’s supervision. It covers access and process only. It does not recommend medical cannabis as a seizure treatment. Never start, stop, reduce, or change a prescribed seizure medication on your own. Those decisions belong to your neurologist. To check eligibility quickly, start with our Do You Qualify page.
The Short Answer
- Seizure disorders qualify when related to epilepsy or trauma-related head injuries. That is the wording the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) uses.
- Children and adults can both qualify. Patients under 18 are registered through a parent or legal guardian serving as caregiver.
- Certification is required. A fully licensed physician with a principal practice location in Georgia must certify the patient. DPH says physicians are not required to certify anyone, and the decision rests on the physician’s medical judgment.
- The card costs $30, plus a $3.75 online service fee, and is valid for five years. Each caregiver card also costs $30.
- A card changes legal access, not the treatment plan. A registry card does not replace prescribed seizure medication, and any change to that medication should happen only under your neurologist’s direction.
Understanding Georgia’s Seizure Disorder Qualifying Condition
DPH lists “seizure disorders related to a diagnosis of epilepsy or trauma-related head injuries.” Here is how that wording applies to common situations.
| Situation | How Georgia’s wording applies |
|---|---|
| Diagnosed epilepsy with seizures | Within the qualifying condition |
| Seizures related to a traumatic brain injury or other trauma-related head injury | Within the qualifying condition |
| An epilepsy syndrome such as Dravet or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome | Epilepsy diagnoses; bring the records and confirm with the physician |
| Seizures with a different documented cause | Ask the certifying physician how Georgia’s wording applies |
| A single seizure without an epilepsy diagnosis | Ask the certifying physician; the wording ties seizures to epilepsy or head injury |
Based on DPH’s qualifying conditions list, current as of September 2026.
A condition with history. Georgia’s 2015 Haleigh’s Hope Act created the original registry, and seizure disorders related to epilepsy or traumatic brain injuries were among its first qualifying diagnoses, according to Akerman LLP’s summary of the program’s history.
What 2026 changed. Senate Bill 220, effective July 1, 2026, removed the 5% THC cap, measured possession in milligrams, expanded product forms, and added independent pharmacies as sellers. Those changes apply to seizure patients the same as everyone else.
Records that help the evaluation:
- Neurology notes documenting the epilepsy diagnosis or the head injury and related seizures
- EEG reports, imaging reports, and any genetic testing results tied to the diagnosis
- A complete current medication list, including every seizure medication, rescue medication, and supplement
- A recent seizure log or diary, if you keep one
- Your current seizure action plan from your neurologist, if you have one
Our medical records checklist has a printable version.
Card Steps at a Glance
| Step | What happens | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Gather records and ID | Neurology records plus Georgia ID or proof of residency | Patient, parent, or caregiver |
| 2. Physician evaluation | Review of diagnosis, history, and medications | Georgia-licensed certifying physician |
| 3. Certification decision | Physician decides whether to certify | The physician |
| 4. Registry entry | Patient and caregiver information entered | The certifying physician |
| 5. DPH verification | DPH checks the submission and contacts you if needed | DPH |
| 6. State fee | $30, plus $3.75 online, within 60 days of DPH’s email | Patient or caregiver |
| 7. Card delivery | UPS with signature required, up to 10 business days after payment | DPH |
Based on DPH patient guidance, current as of September 2026.
DPH cancels cards that are not paid within 60 days of the payment email. See our step-by-step timeline guide for detail on each stage.
Medical Supervision Comes First
This section matters more than any other in this guide.
Keep taking prescribed seizure medications exactly as directed. Getting a registry card is not a reason to reduce, skip, or stop any prescribed medication. Only your neurologist should change your seizure treatment plan.
Why this is so important. FDA labeling for Epidiolex, the prescription cannabidiol medicine, warns that as with most antiepileptic drugs, stopping should be gradual because of the risk of increased seizure frequency and status epilepticus. The same caution applies to the seizure medications you already take. Abrupt changes carry real risk.
Tell your neurologist before starting any product. Your neurologist knows your seizure history, your medications, and your risks. They should know about any registry product before it starts, not after.
Report changes promptly. If seizure frequency, seizure type, alertness, or behavior changes after a product is started, contact your neurologist. Follow your seizure action plan, including instructions for rescue medication and when to call 911.
Never adjust on your own. Do not change product amounts, switch products, or combine products without first discussing it with the physicians managing the patient’s care.
Interaction and Safety Concerns
Registry products and prescription medications can affect each other. These are the questions to take to your neurologist and pharmacist.
Known interactions with seizure medications. The FDA prescribing information for Epidiolex reports that using it with valproate increases the risk of liver enzyme elevations and that sleepiness and sedation occur more often in patients also taking clobazam. Registry products are different from Epidiolex, and their cannabinoid content varies, but those warnings show why interactions with seizure medications deserve a pharmacist’s and neurologist’s review.
Lab monitoring. Ask your neurologist whether any lab work, such as liver tests or medication levels, should be checked before or after a product is started.
Sedation and alertness. Ask how a product could combine with other sedating medications, and what the family should watch for.
Product labels. Registry products list THC content, and many list other cannabinoids. Bring the label to your neurologist and pharmacist so they know exactly what is being considered.
Consistency. Ask your neurologist whether switching to a different product, strength, or brand should involve a check-in first.
Seizure diary. Keep a record of seizures, medications, and any registry product with the date, time, and amount. Bring it to every appointment.
Driving. Georgia has separate rules about driving with a seizure disorder, and impaired driving is a crime. Talk with your neurologist about driving before and after any product is started.
Safe storage. Keep products locked, in their original labeled packaging, and away from children and visitors. Georgia’s possession protection requires products in the manufacturer’s labeled container.
Prescription Medicine and Registry Products Are Different
Families researching this topic often run into Epidiolex. Here is how it differs from registry products.
| Epidiolex | Georgia registry products | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An FDA-approved prescription cannabidiol oral solution | Products from Georgia-licensed producers under state law |
| How you get it | A prescription from a physician, filled by a pharmacy | A registry card, purchased at a licensed dispensary or pharmacy |
| FDA approval | Approved for seizures associated with specific conditions | Not FDA-approved |
| Insurance | Depends on your plan | DPH says insurance does not cover the card |
Ask your neurologist whether a prescription option applies to the patient’s diagnosis before or alongside considering a registry card. That is a treatment decision, and it belongs with the neurologist.
What to Discuss With Your Neurologist
Before a registry card:
- Is there any reason medical cannabis would conflict with the current seizure treatment plan?
- Does a prescription cannabinoid medicine apply to this diagnosis?
- Which current medications raise interaction concerns?
- Should any lab work be done first?
If a product is being considered:
- Which product forms, if any, would you want us to discuss further?
- What changes should we watch for, and when should we call you?
- Should the seizure action plan be updated?
- How should the product be recorded in the medication list and seizure diary?
Ongoing:
- How often should we check in after a product starts?
- What should happen before any change to amount, product, or brand?
Questions for the certifying physician:
- Does the diagnosis in the records fit Georgia’s seizure disorder qualifying condition?
- How do we add one or more caregivers?
- How does annual certification work, and when is the next one due?
Our pre-appointment questions checklist has more.
Parent and Caregiver Issues
Many seizure patients are children, and many adults with epilepsy rely on family support.
Minors. A patient under 18 is registered with a parent or legal guardian as caregiver. The caregiver holds their own card, purchases products, and manages them at home.
Who can be a caregiver. Caregivers must be Georgia residents 18 or older, and are typically a parent, legal guardian, or designated caregiver. The certifying physician adds caregiver information to the registry.
More than one caregiver. DPH says each caregiver may apply, and each card costs $30. Two parents, or parents in separate households, may each want to register.
Grandparents and babysitters. Only a registered caregiver with their own card can purchase for the patient. If other family members help with daily care, talk with your physician about whether they should register, and make sure every adult involved follows the neurologist’s plan.
School and child care. Schools and child care programs set their own policies on medications and cannabis products. Talk with the school nurse or program director, and make sure your child’s seizure action plan on file reflects the neurologist’s current instructions.
Turning 18. When a minor patient turns 18, ask the certifying physician how the registration should be updated.
Secure storage at home. Lock products away from all children, including siblings, and keep them in their original labeled packaging.
Keep the paperwork together. Store the patient’s card, each caregiver’s card, IDs, the medication list, and the seizure action plan in one place.
Our Georgia caregiver guide covers the full caregiver rules.
Product Forms and Rules
Under SB 220, Georgia allows oils, tinctures, capsules, lotions, transdermal patches, ingestibles, and vaporizer products, with an age requirement for vaporization. Smoking remains illegal for every patient, candy- or cookie-style products are prohibited, and public use is prohibited. Registered patients and caregivers may possess products containing up to 12,000 milligrams of total THC, in labeled packaging. A Georgia card does not authorize possession in another state.
Which form, if any, is appropriate is a question for the certifying physician and the neurologist. Products are sold at dispensaries licensed by the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission and independent pharmacies licensed by the Georgia Board of Pharmacy. See our dispensary partners page and our first-visit dispensary checklist.
How Elevated Health MD Helps Seizure Patients and Families
- Pre-qualification review. Share the diagnosis, medications, and history before booking, so you know where you stand first.
- Records help. Our team can gather records from your neurologist and other providers and checks ID and residency documents against what DPH accepts before submission.
- Telehealth evaluation. The patient joins by phone or video with a Georgia-licensed physician, and parents or caregivers can join from wherever they are. Visits usually run 10 to 15 minutes. Certification is always the physician’s medical decision.
- Registry filing. If the patient is certified, we handle the registry filing, including caregiver information.
- Guidance after approval. We explain possession limits, allowed product forms, and where the card is accepted, and we ask every patient and family to keep their neurologist involved.
Elevated Health MD does not manage seizure treatment and does not sell cannabis products. We handle the physician evaluation and the records work behind the card. Your neurologist remains in charge of your seizure care.
When you are ready, start with a pre-qualification review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does epilepsy qualify for a Georgia medical cannabis card? Yes. DPH lists seizure disorders related to a diagnosis of epilepsy or trauma-related head injuries as a qualifying condition. A Georgia-licensed physician must still evaluate the patient and decide whether to certify.
Do seizures from a traumatic brain injury qualify in Georgia? Yes, when the seizure disorder is related to a trauma-related head injury. Bring records documenting the injury and the related seizures to the evaluation.
Can a child with epilepsy get a Georgia medical cannabis card? Yes. A patient under 18 is registered with a parent or legal guardian serving as caregiver. Each caregiver applies for their own card at $30.
Can I stop my seizure medication if I get a medical cannabis card? No. Never start, stop, reduce, or change a prescribed seizure medication on your own. Only your neurologist should change your seizure treatment plan, because abrupt changes can increase the risk of seizures.
Can medical cannabis products interact with seizure medications? They can. FDA labeling for the prescription cannabidiol medicine Epidiolex reports interaction concerns with valproate and clobazam. Have your neurologist and pharmacist review every product and medication before anything is started.
Is Epidiolex the same as a Georgia registry product? No. Epidiolex is an FDA-approved prescription medicine filled at a pharmacy with a prescription. Georgia registry products are sold under state law to registered patients and caregivers and are not FDA-approved.
Should I tell my neurologist about my medical cannabis card? Yes. Your neurologist should know about any registry product before it is started so they can review interactions, update your seizure action plan, and monitor for changes.
Final Thoughts
Seizure disorders related to epilepsy or trauma-related head injuries have qualified for Georgia’s program since the beginning, and the 2026 changes broadened the product forms and places to buy. The card steps are simple: gather neurology records and ID, see a Georgia-licensed physician who makes the certification decision, register caregivers, and pay the state fee within 60 days. The part that protects patients is medical supervision. Keep taking prescribed seizure medications as directed, involve your neurologist and pharmacist before any product starts, keep a seizure diary, and never make medication changes on your own. We handle the card side so families can stay focused on care.
Elevated Health MD: Georgia physicians, Georgia law, and a card process that keeps your neurologist in charge.
This article is for general information only and is not medical or legal advice. It does not recommend medical cannabis for epilepsy, seizures, or any condition. Never start, stop, or change a prescribed medication without your neurologist’s direction. Certification is always the physician’s medical decision. Georgia rules and fees can change. Information current as of September 2026.