SC Could Legalize Restricted Use of Medical Marijuana with New Bill

A new bill filed in South Carolina could allow limited use of medical marijuana for severe diseases.

House Minority Leader Tom Rutherford (D-Columbia), who has championed bills to legalize medical marijuana in the state before, filed the new piece of legislation which would authorize those with “a debilitating medical condition” to use medical marijuana.

The bill, known as the “Put Patients First Act,” requires the patient to have a physician complete a medical verification form and register with the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) in order to obtain a registry identification card to use the drug strictly for medical reasons.

The bill includes provisions for diseases such as cancer, glaucoma, HIV or AIDS, cachexia, epilepsy, and multiple schlerosis. The bill will also authorize specific people as caregivers for patients under limited circumstances, and allow providers to operate dispensaries to cultivate and sell medical marijuana.

Patients registered with DHEC as providers would be allowed to possess up to 6 plants for medical marijuana use.

The bill also lays out penalties for anyone committing fraud in order to obtain marijuana plants for recreational use or financial gain.

“The time has come to put aside archaic misconceptions of medical marijuana and put patients first,” said Rep. Rutherford. “I hear devastating stories every single day from people who are battling epilepsy or suffering from a brain tumor who desperately need medical marijuana to treat the debilitating symptoms. I want to help these people and the government should not be a barrier for them to get the medical services they need. Medical marijuana has been legal in South Carolina for three decades but the state has refused to initiate the process of allowing patients to obtain it and for licensed professionals to grow it. I refuse to let these people suffer any longer – it’s time to move forward and put the health of our citizens ahead of politics.”

A separate house in the SC House would allow very limited use of cannabidol or CBD, a chemical compound that can be derived from marijuana as an oil and used to alleviate symptoms of some neurological disorders such as epilepsy. CBD is believed to have therapeutic effects, while THC, another prominent chemical in marijuana, is responsible for the “high” or euphoric feeling sought out by recreational users.

The medical marijuana bill, supported by both Democrats and Republicans in the house, was inspired by the story of Mary Louise Swing, whose severe epilepsy was effectively treated with Charlotte’s Web.

The six-year-old could have as many as 100 seizures in an hour, and, while not life-threatening, they prevented her from learning to walk or talk, and led to injuries like a busted lip and broken teeth. Prescribed medications barely made a dent. However, her desperate parents tried cannabidiol, and for the first time, Mary Louise’s seizures stopped. She was able to talk and walk with minimal assistance.
The Legislature’s only ER doctor, Rep. Kris Crawford, said the cannabis oil shows promise toward helping people with extreme forms of epilepsy live normally.

“It’s very scientifically based medical use within sanction, and the only reason we’re talking about it today is because it’s from an organic source that is controversial,” Crawford said.

If You Face Marijuana Charges, Including for Medical Marijuana Use, The Strom Law Firm Can Help

If you or a loved one have been found with medical marijuana, you could face criminal charges ranging from misdemeanor to felony, depending on how much marijuana was on your person, and what your intent was with the drug. The drug crimes attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help. Do not let drug charges for medical marijuana hurt your reputation or your future aspirations. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case. Contact us today for help. 803.252.4800