The South Carolina Legislature introduced 3 bills to implement a medical marijuana program. The South Carolina Compassionate Care Act appears to be the leading legislation with both a house and senate version. The Act would require the Department of Health and Environmental Control to implement a regulatory framework for the medical marijuana program including the registration of cultivation centers, processors, dispensaries and independent testing facilities.
Information regarding the three medical marijuana bills is provided below.
S 366 / H 3660 – South Carolina Compassionate Care Act
Qualifying conditions must be debilitating but includes conditions for which an opioid is currently or could be prescribed to tread
Limits on medical marijuana businesses including:
15 cultivation center licenses
30 processing licenses
1 dispensary license for every 20 pharmacies
5 independent testing licenses
Requires facilities to be open within 18 months of the law’s effective date
H 3272 – Put Patients First Act
Qualifying conditions must be debilitating but includes severe pain
Patients and caregivers can grow up to six plants
Children may qualify with the diagnosis of two doctors that the condition is debilitating and can be treated with medical marijuana
Dispensaries may grow, process, package, sell and deliver medical marijuana products
S 0366 – Medical Use of Marijuana Act
Qualifying conditions are limited and must be severely debilitating or life threatening
A single dose is limited to 10mg THC
Medical marijuana products must be approved by the Department