Peake won't run for lieutenant governor

ATLANTA -- State Rep. Allen Peake is abandoning the idea of a 2018 run for lieutenant governor, saying his well-reported deliberations about the office are undercutting his push for medical marijuana.

"I keep hearing that the only reason I'm pushing this medical marijuana bill is to elevate my name ... as a platform for higher office," Peake, R-Macon, said.

Peake is the author of a bill that would allow the state to license a handful of companies to grow cannabis and manufacture liquid or solid-form products for Georgians who have any one of 17 serious diagnoses. His House Bill 722 is a follow-up to a successful bill he authored last year that created the state's medical cannabis patient registry and exempts such patients from prosecution for possession of certain cannabis liquids.

"I thought it was time to make it clear: My motivation for pushing this bill has nothing to do with higher office," Peake said.

He said he pushed for the bill because he wants to get medical cannabis to Georgians who suffer from serious diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis.

Peake said he will run for re-election to the state House this year.

To contact writer Maggie Lee, e-mail mlee@macon.com.

This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 3:04 PM with the headline "Peake won't run for lieutenant governor ."