2021 medical cannabis bills pre-filed; South Carolina becomes more of an outlier as Mississippi voters enact medical cannabis

Last update: December 11, 2020

On December 9, 2020, Sen. Tom Davis (R) and Rep. Bill Herbkersman (R) pre-filed bills that would allow seriously ill patients to use and safely access medical cannabis in South Carolina — H. 3361 and S. 150.

This is the first time Rep. Herbkersman has served as the lead sponsor in the House. The previous House sponsor, Rep. Peter McCoy, was appointed U.S Attorney. Rep. Herbkersman cited his late brother’s experience finding relief from medical cannabis as he was stricken with cancer as a motivation for sponsoring the bill.

As Rep. Bill Herbkersman explained, “It is unacceptable that South Carolinians with serious illnesses have to break the law to alleviate their suffering. My brother better. Our friends, family, and neighbors deserve the same options to medicine that are afforded to Americans in 36 other states. Waiting any longer will only add to the suffering that is experienced by those who are plagued with debilitating illnesses.”

Let your state legislators know that another year must not go by without enacting a compassionate medical cannabis law. Ask them to do all they can to ensure medical cannabis is enacted when they return to Columbia in January.

Since the legislature adjourned, South Carolina has become even more of an outlier. On November 3, 2020, a supermajority of Mississippi voters approved a broad citizens’ initiative to allow medical cannabis. Mississippi joins 35 other states, including including Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, and Virginia. While polls show even stronger popular support for medical cannabis in South Carolina, the Palmetto State doesn’t have a citizen initiative process, and the state legislature has failed to act on this popular issue.

Please also 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.

South Carolina medical professionals, patients, and veterans gathered in the Capitol rotunda on January 22, 2020 for a press conference to call on the legislature to adopt a compassionate medical cannabis program. Margaret Richardson, pictured above in red, suffers from trigeminal neuralgia.
(Source: WCBDNews 2)

Take action!

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

Contact us: If you are interested in getting more involved and are a person with a serious illness, doctor, nurse, clergy member, Ph.D., lawyer, or other influential member of your community, please email state@mpp.org and be sure to include your address or zip code.

Stay connected: To stay updated on the status of marijuana policy reform in South Carolina, be sure to subscribe to MPP’s email alerts.