South Carolina Senate fails to act on medical cannabis legislation in 2023; efforts turn to 2024 

“The medicine that saves my life every day is illegal in South Carolina. I am asking my fellow South Carolinians, please support your veterans by asking your legislators to support compassionate legislation to bring this relief to everyone who needs it.” 

— J., a female South Carolina veteran with PTSD and a severely painful kidney condition that medical cannabis has dramatically helped

For the first time ever, the South Carolina Senate passed a medical cannabis bill in 2022, in a landslide 28-15 vote. However, the bill died when the House of Representatives refused to debate the bill on  procedural grounds. 

In 2023, bill sponsor Sen. Tom Davis introduced a revised bill (S. 423) that remedied the procedural issue. In a shocking development, the Senate — with nearly identical members as in 2022 — refused to give a “special order” slot to S. 423.. South Carolina has a two year legislative session, so S. 423 will start where it left off in 2023, awaiting a Senate floor vote. 

A detailed summary of S.423 can be found here.

Please write to your state senator and state representative. It is critical that they hear that medical cannabis is a priority for their constituents. Let them know you want 2024 to be the year that South Carolina finally joins the 38 other states that give patients the medical freedom to use cannabis with a doctor’s certification. 

And let us know if you are a patient who could benefit from medical cannabis, or a supportive medical professional, clergy member, veteran, or current or former member of law enforcement. Your voice is particularly powerful in this effort.

Take action!

Speak out: If you live in South Carolina, please email your lawmakers in support of compassionate comprehensive medical marijuana legislation. 

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