Last week, the Senate Medical Affairs Committee approved S0150 with a vote of 9-5. This bill enacts the South Carolina Compassionate Care Act. An act that creates a medical cannabis program in the state. Sponsored by Senator Tom Davis (R), S0150 is the “most conservative medical cannabis bill in the country.”

S0150

As the South Carolina Compassionate Care Act moves towards a full Senate vote, some changes have been made. However the core of the bill is still present. Right now, S0150 will allow an initial 15 regulator licenses approved for vertically integrated businesses that would control the production, distribution, and sales of medical cannabis. Also, over 100 dispensary licenses during the initial run of the Compassionate Care Act will be approved.

Medical patients would qualify if they receive a diagnosis from a licensed doctor with a condition on the list. Some conditions include:

• Cancer
• MS
• Epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• Chron’s Disease
• Sickle Cell Anemia
• Cachexia/Wasting syndrome
• Severe and/or consistent muscle spasms
• End of life care
• Terminal illness with less than one year life expectancy left 

However, patients can only purchase 1.6 grams of medical cannabis every two weeks. Smoking medical cannabis is also prohibited. Finally, home growth of medical cannabis plants remains illegal under S0150.

Lawmaker Concern

Currently, S0150 is waiting for a full Senate hearing. Originally scheduled for Tuesday April 5, S0150 still waits for it’s debate in the Senate. And there’s a reason for that. In South Carolina law, a single Senator has the power to hold up discussion of any bill. A ⅗ majority of Senators is needed to overturn the hold up and bring the bill to the floor. That Senator holding up the South Carolina Compassionate Care Act is Senator Greg Hembree (R). 

“We don’t make a decision about which cancer drugs are good for you,” he said to local news shortly before S0150’s discussion in the Senate. “Why we’re wandering into this other substance… I think it’s not a wise use of our power.”

That’s why he has stalled discussion. Many other lawmakers are joining in opposition and not necessarily down party lines. One Republican Senator said he favored the bill. But, he wasn’t surprised the opposition. Another Democratic Senator on the initial Senate committee opposed the bill. This Senator has not made any public comments at this time. 

Voter Response

Currently, South Carolina has no medical cannabis program in place and an extremely limited medicinal CBD program set up for qualifying patients. Last November, 82 percent of voters said they supported medical cannabis legalization in the state through a nonbinding ballot measure. Even further still, in a recent report, medical cannabis received a 5-1 favoritism. Clearly South Carolinians want medical cannabis. But lawmakers are saying otherwise.

This is a similar situation to Idaho, where lawmakers are pushing for an amendment to the state’s constitution to prevent any psychoactive drugs being used in the state, including any form of cannabis. South Dakota’s Governor is having a similar response to voter approved IM 26 that would create a medical cannabis program in the state. However, lawmakers say IM 26 will run as intended after a bill to stall the program’s start died in the Senate recently. 

S0150’s sponsor, Senator Tom Davis said recently that if this bill doesn’t make it through the Senate, his proposed bill to allow citizens the choice to vote for legalization would be pushed through the state’s congress. Citizens are in need of medical cannabis and they should have access to it.

As more information becomes available, we will be sure to update you with the latest. Make sure to check back for more cannabis and hemp related news.