In a significant step forward, the South Carolina Senate has prioritized the Compassionate Care Act, positioning the state to possibly join 39 others that have already legalized medical marijuana.
The decision came on February 6 when state senators voted 26-13 to fast-track the bill, S. 423, to the Senate floor, achieving the necessary two-thirds supermajority by a narrow margin. This move comes after an earlier attempt failed to garner enough support just days prior.
Bill Features And Restrictions
The proposed Compassionate Care Act outlines a stringent medical cannabis program, excluding smokable forms in favor of topicals, tinctures, vaporizers and edibles.
It sets forth a comprehensive list of qualifying conditions, rigorous requirements for physician-patient relationships, and specific dosing limits to ensure controlled use.
The bill emphasizes a medical approach over recreational, with tight regulations aimed at preventing misuse and ensuring patient safety.
Under the bill, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, as well as the Board of Pharmacy would oversee the licensing and regulation of the medical cannabis industry.
A Medical Cannabis Advisory Board is proposed to manage the program’s operational aspects. Importantly, local …
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