The South Carolina Legislature introduced 3 bills to implement a medical marijuana program. The South Carolina Compassionate Care Act appears to be the leading legislation with both a house and senate version. The Act would require the Department of Health and Environmental Control to implement a regulatory framework for the medical marijuana program including the registration of cultivation centers, processors, dispensaries and independent testing facilities.
Information regarding the three medical marijuana bills is provided below.
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S 366 / H 3660 – South Carolina Compassionate Care Act
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Qualifying conditions must be debilitating but includes conditions for which an opioid is currently or could be prescribed to tread
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Limits on medical marijuana businesses including:
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15 cultivation center licenses
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30 processing licenses
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1 dispensary license for every 20 pharmacies
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5 independent testing licenses
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Requires facilities to be open within 18 months of the law’s effective date
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H 3272 – Put Patients First Act
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Qualifying conditions must be debilitating but includes severe pain
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Patients and caregivers can grow up to six plants
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Children may qualify with the diagnosis of two doctors that the condition is debilitating and can be treated with medical marijuana
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Dispensaries may grow, process, package, sell and deliver medical marijuana products
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S 0366 – Medical Use of Marijuana Act
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Qualifying conditions are limited and must be severely debilitating or life threatening
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A single dose is limited to 10mg THC
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Medical marijuana products must be approved by the Department
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