A new Georgia law creates a licensing mandate for psychedelic-assisted treatment clinics—including ketamine infusion centers—that most operators haven't yet planned for.
Most Georgia health services owners operating psychedelic-assisted treatment clinics don't realize they're now subject to a new state licensing requirement buried in HB717. If you run a ketamine infusion clinic, psilocybin-assisted therapy program, or similar psychedelic treatment service, this affects you directly—and the clock is ticking.
Effective July 1, 2027, any clinic in Georgia providing psychedelic-assisted treatment or therapy must obtain a license from the state medical board. This applies per location, meaning multi-site operators need separate licenses for each clinic. The requirement appears in Section 1, subsection (d)(1) of the bill.
The licensing requirement isn't optional. Clinics operating without a board license after the July 1, 2027 deadline face serious penalties: criminal charges classified as a felony, with sentences of 1 to 5 years imprisonment and/or fines of $1,000 to $5,000.
Beyond the legal risk, this creates two concrete operational obligations:
Initial licensing: Before July 1, 2027, you'll need to submit an application to the state medical board and meet whatever standards the board establishes. The board must finalize its regulations before December 2026 (per the bill's timeline), giving you roughly six months to prepare your application.
Recurring costs: Once licensed, you'll pay biennial renewal fees—every two years—to maintain your license. The bill doesn't specify the fee amount, but you should budget for this as an ongoing compliance expense.
If you operate multiple clinics, multiply these costs and timelines by the number of locations. A three-clinic operation will need three separate licenses and three renewal payments every two years.
The state medical board will publish its licensing rules and regulations sometime before December 2026. Once those rules are public, you'll know exactly what documentation, facility standards, staffing qualifications, or other requirements apply to your clinic.
The hard deadline is July 1, 2027. Any clinic operating without a board license on or after that date is in violation.
If you operate a psychedelic-assisted treatment clinic in Georgia, now is the time to:
• Monitor the state medical board's website for the final regulations (expected by December 2026)
• Review your clinic's current operations against likely licensing standards
• Budget for licensing fees and renewal costs in your financial planning
• Document your clinic's credentials, staff qualifications, and treatment protocols
This isn't a suggestion or best practice—it's a legal requirement with criminal penalties for non-compliance. The three-year window before the deadline gives you time to prepare, but only if you act before the regulations are finalized.
Source: Georgia HB717, Medical Practice Act, Section 1, subsection (d)(1)