The sponsor of this year’s bill legalizing medical marijuana in Georgia will push to expand the law, despite opposition from Gov. Nathan Deal and a study commission created by the governor.

State Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon, said Tuesday he plans to pre-file legislation next week allowing marijuana to be grown in Georgia and used to produce cannabis oil for treating patients with seizure disorders and other diseases. The 2016 General Assembly session starts Jan. 11.

At Deal’s urging, lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a bill last spring allowing adult patients or the parents of child patients to possess cannabis oil with authorization from a doctor and a registration card issued by the state. However, the oil must be obtained from out of state because Georgia law still prohibits growing marijuana or processing the oil derived from the plant into a drug. [Read more at the Georgia Business Chronicle]