By Jill Nolin | Editor
Georgia lawmakers made significant updates to the state’s medical cannabis program this year, including the somewhat symbolic change of dropping the “low THC oil” branding and just calling the program what it is. The result? One month in and another 8,000 people have signed up, representing a 22% increase in about a month.
We also have a story that looks at the cyberattack targeting a metro Atlanta water system and what it says about the vulnerability of our water infrastructure.
The Georgia medical cannabis patient registry grew more than 22% in just over a month, with over 8,200 new patients enrolling after a new law changed the program significantly. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)
HEALTH
By Alander Rocha
Georgia’s medical cannabis program experienced an unprecedented surge of new registered patients over the past month after the law changed significantly to ease access.
The patient registry grew from 36,595 patients in late June to 44,854 on Monday, an increase of more than 22% in just over a month. The increase of over 8,200 active patients marks a significant change of pace for a decade-old program that grew sluggishly under the previous law.
The steep increase reflects a “pent-up demand” across Georgia, said Gary Long, CEO of Botanical Sciences, one of the state’s medical cannabis producers. Long said that the uptick is encouraging, and he does not expect it to slow down.
Some Clayton County residents experienced low water pressure or a lack of water last week after what may have been a cyber attack. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)
CYBERSECURITY
By Ross Williams
Clayton County authorities say a boil water advisory and low water pressure may have been part of a multistate cyber campaign targeting water infrastructure that could be linked to Iran.
Rex Democratic state Rep. Sandra Scott said she’s heard from constituents upset about the incident.
“It is critical that they truly get to the bottom of it because we know that we all need water,” she said
The incident comes amid cyber attacks on municipal water systems in at least seven other states, according to the FBI, including Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin.
The Big Four Bridge over the Ohio River, connecting Louisville, Kentucky, and Jeffersonville, Indiana. (Photo by Sarah Ladd/Kentucky Lantern)
DC BUREAU
By Jacob Fischler
The stopgap spending bill supported by an overwhelming majority of U.S. senators does not address tens of billions in expiring transportation funding, leaving states facing a massive effective budget cut starting Oct. 1.
The 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, which authorized highway and transit programs for five years, expires Sept. 30. Roughly $38.6 billion per year in extra federal transportation funding is set to expire with it, even if the continuing resolution the Senate advanced 89-4 Monday becomes law.
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