Speaker David Ralston and Rep. Earl Ehrhart

Georgia House Speaker David Ralston says he hopes both chambers will vote this week on a bill allowing people with any of eight medical conditions to use a type of medical marijuana.

Ralston told The Associated Press in an interview Friday that he'd rather not wait until the final week of the legislative session to consider that bill. Lawmakers hope to wrap up the session's 40 working days on April 2.

After an emotional, lengthy hearing Thursday, a Senate committee approved a bill granting legal use of cannabis oil for cancer, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, Mitochondrial disease, Fibromyalgia, Parkinson's disease and sickle cell anemia. A House version sponsored by State Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon, would also have allowed people with Fibromyalgia to use the oil, but the Senate panel cut that diagnosis.

"Anytime you make a list, you're going to have people that want to add to or take from," Ralston said. "I think we're going to have to wait and see how this is implemented on the ground after it's signed into law."

The bill is on the Senate's floor calendar for Tuesday. Peake said Monday that if the Senate makes no further changes, he will urge House members to back it and get the bill to Gov. Nathan Deal within the day.

Also On The Agenda

In addition to the medical marijuana bill, the legislature has reconciling the transportation bill and budget bill on its to-do list. It is also reviewing the controversial religious freedom bill.

Read a full summary here.

Tags: medical marijuana, legalizing medical marijuana in georgia, speaker david ralston