---
title: O.C.G.A. § 16-12-219. Convicted felons prohibited from employment; exception.
collection: code
id: 16-12-219
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 16-12-219 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-12-219
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-12-219.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-12-219/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t16-ch12-17-(v14b)-2024-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=a591fa7b_0#page=211
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-12.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CRIMES AND OFFENSES / OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH AND MORALS / ACCESS TO MEDICAL CANNABIS / ROLE OF COMMISSION
---

# O.C.G.A. § 16-12-219. Convicted felons prohibited from employment; exception.

(a) No individual convicted of a drug related felony shall be eligible to work as an employee of a licensee or otherwise participate in the business activities of a licensee conducted pursuant to this part unless the conviction has been expunged or the individual has been pardoned or had his or her civil rights restored.

(b) No individual convicted of a nondrug related felony shall be eligible to work as an employee of a licensee or otherwise participate in the business activities of a licensee conducted pursuant to this part unless:

(1) The conviction has been expunged or the individual has been pardoned or had his or her civil rights restored; or

(2)(A) The date of conviction is greater than ten years old; and

(B) The individual:

(i) Has been released from incarceration for at least five years; or

(ii) Agrees to submit to weekly drug screenings.

## History

Code 1981, § 16-12-219, enacted by Ga. L. 2019, p. 43, § 4/HB 324.