---
title: O.C.G.A. § 45-23-2. Legislative finding and declaration.
collection: code
id: 45-23-2
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 45-23-2 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-23-2
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-23-2.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-23-2/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t45-(v33)-2016-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=cde47f8a_0#page=661
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/45-23.md
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next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/45-23-3.md
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: PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES / DRUG-FREE PUBLIC WORK FORCE
---

# O.C.G.A. § 45-23-2. Legislative finding and declaration.

The General Assembly finds that the manufacture, distribution, sale, or possession of controlled substances, marijuana, and other dangerous drugs in an unlawful manner is a serious threat to the public health, safety, and welfare. It is declared to be a primary purpose and goal of this state, of all of its agencies and instrumentalities, and of all of its public officials and employees to take all reasonable steps possible to eradicate the unlawful manufacture, distribution, sale, and possession of controlled substances, marijuana, and other dangerous drugs. With this purpose in mind, the General Assembly declares that its work force must be absolutely free of any person who would knowingly manufacture, distribute, sell, or possess a controlled substance, marijuana, or a dangerous drug in an unlawful manner. For this reason, the General Assembly enacts this chapter.

## History

Code 1981, § 45-23-2, enacted by Ga. L. 1990, p. 2004, § 1.