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South Carolina Compassion Care Act Approved!
The South Carolina Senate Medical Affairs Committee approved a bill to legalize medical marijuana in the state with a 9-5 vote. Officially called the “Compassionate Care Act”, this regulated bill allows patients with a qualifying, deliberating condition to possess and purchase marijuana. Once the remaining two Senate members vote, the bill will pass through the Senate and be brought to the House. Lawmakers believe there is a good chance this bill will be implemented this session!
South Carolina Marijuana Card is here for you! We are excited about this news, and we will be the first to tell you when medical marijuana is officially legalized in the state. Check out our website to stay up to date with the latest news, and read our weekly blogs for more information. Reserve your appointment to be evaluated by a certified marijuana doctor as soon as you can!
With this medical marijuana bill, doctors will meet with patients to evaluate their conditions, then recommend cannabis if there is a clear benefit. These certified physicians are required to take medical marijuana education courses, advising patients on proper dosing, potential risks, and modes of administering marijuana.
If approved, the certified marijuana doctor will provide a written treatment plan and officially recommend the patient for medical marijuana. They will then be registered with the state. This Senate bill lists specific qualifying conditions for a patient to qualify for medical marijuana including cancer, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, sickle cell anemia, and autism.
What the Compassionate Care Act Means for SC Medical Marijuana
Under the initial bill, there will be more than 100 dispensaries licensed to sell marijuana. This version of the legislation, the Senate version, would ban smokable marijuana products. There is a separate House bill currently pending that would allow patients the option to smoke. Home cultivation would be prohibited under both versions, as the production, distribution, and sales of marijuana will be controlled.
If this bill is passed through the Senate, it will be taken up in the House this session. It was approved with a 9-5 vote, however, two of the chamber’s members have not voted yet. Senator Tom Davis, active supporter of the legalization of medical marijuana, said that he will “meet with every senator in opposition personally and try to swing them his way”. Davis keeps refining the bill in hopes that it will be approved sooner than later.
There is overwhelming support from South Carolinians for this bill; the Epilepsy Foundation, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the South Carolina Podiatric Medical Association all advocate for this bill. More than 70% of South Carolina voters believe a compassionate medical marijuana program should be legalized, as South Carolina is one of only 14 states that still prohibits the medical use of marijuana.
Patients in South Carolina with debilitating conditions deserve to have the option of medical cannabis under a physician’s care. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all relevant information regarding medical marijuana in the state, and feel free to contact our patient support staff if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Doctors Who Care. Relief You Can Trust.
At South Carolina Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (833) 781-6670, or simply reserve a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust!
Check out South Carolina Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information.