S.C. prepares to again attempt medical cannabis legislation in new session

“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

In 2024, the South Carolina House of Representatives failed to call a vote on medical cannabis legislation after its passage in the Senate. The Senate has twice passed medical cannabis legislation, but both times it died in the House.

On January 14, 2025, the 126th session of the South Carolina General Assembly will convene. South Carolina has a two-year cycle for the fate of legislation to be decided. Medical cannabis legislation will be re-introduced, as it has every session over the past decade. With so many new members of the legislature, the South Carolina Compassionate Care Act will be heard by many unfamiliar with the details of previous versions, so contacting your legislators is more important than ever!

Senator Tom Davis (R) has worked for years to refine medical cannabis legislation to address concerns of his colleagues and opponents. It took several years to get through the Senate, which has now passed the Compassionate Care Act twice. Let your representative know voters want the House to give the carefully crafted legislation a vote, too.

It is critical that legislators hear that medical cannabis is a priority for their constituents. Let them know you want 2025 to be the year that South Carolina finally joins the 39 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.

South Carolina continues to jail cannabis consumers

South Carolina is one of only 19 states that continues to jail individuals for possessing small amounts of marijuana.

Neighboring North Carolina passed a limited decriminalization law back in 1977. But in South Carolina, the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports data shows more than 10,000 arrests for cannabis possession in South Carolina in 2023 alone.

Let your lawmakers know it’s past time to stop incarcerating people for using cannabis. 

Take action!

Speak out: If you live in South Carolina, https://www.mpp.org/takeaction/actions/urge-your-state-legislators-to-support-a-compassionate-medical-marijuana-program/

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