South Carolina Medical Cannabis Bill Set for Hearing This Week

A bill to legalize medical cannabis in South Carolina is scheduled for a hearing in the state Senate, according to the Associated Press. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Tom Davis (D), has been introduced for several years in a row but this is the first time it will receive a hearing. The proposal will be heard before almost any other bill in a special hearing, the report says, which Davis said could come on Tuesday or Wednesday.

“We cannot wait any longer for these people to have their suffering alleviated. It is immoral. They are howling in pain and we are deny them something that their doctor wants to give them because of some political reason back in 1971 that President Nixon wanted to stick it to a bunch of hippies.” — Davis, in a statement last year to the AP

Under the proposal, patients will only be allowed to purchase medical cannabis oil, not smokable flower products. Qualifying conditions would include cancer, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, sickle cell anemia, and autism. Medical cannabis authorization appointments would be in-person only, the report says.

Despite opposition from top law enforcement officials, the attorney general, and some Christian groups, Davis is optimistic the bill will pass to the House, but the chamber has not indicated whether they will hear the bill.

South Carolina has seen little movement when it comes to medical cannabis policy. Although Democrats in the state support the policy, the Republican majority has allowed little debate on the issue.

The state does have a USDA-approved industrial hemp program but recently ruled that Delta-8 THC was illegal under the hemp law.