South Carolina Senate approves medical marijuana legislation
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - The South Carolina Senate on Wednesday ed a bill to legalize medical marijuana, but it still faces challenges to become law.
The expansive bill – called the Comionate Care Act – only allows for use in oils, salves, patches and vaporizers, so smoking marijuana would still be illegal.
A dozen medical conditions, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy, would qualify for a prescription, which doctors would need to approve in person.
Only certain licensed pharmacies would be able to dispense the drug – and a five-year sunset provision would allow the legislature to evaluate how the program is doing at that point and potentially end it, if it’s not working.
A very similar bill ed in the Senate two years ago – but died in the House on a technicality before debate could really get underway.
“The real challenge is going to be getting it through the House process. … But I’m hopeful that it can be moved through expeditiously, and I’m hopeful that leadership brings it up for a vote over there,” said Sen. Tom Davis. R-Beaufort.
Gov. Henry McMaster told us he’ll be watching how this bill progresses.
The governor didn’t give a definitive stance on if he’d sign it – saying he sees both the side of advocates who want medical marijuana legalized – along with the concerns of law enforcement.
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