SC: Lawmakers Eye Legal Medical Marijuana As New Term Kicks Off In Statehouse

Robert Celt

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There is a new push to legalize medical marijuana in the South Carolina Statehouse, and leading that charge is a Lowcountry lawmaker.

In 2014, South Carolina legalized the use of CBD oil. Two bills this legislative session focus on THC, a chemical doctors say can be used as an alternative to traditional drug therapy.

"There are some medical uses for marijuana that would be beneficial not only for kids with epilepsy, but for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, fibromyalgia, terminal cancer," said Rep. Jenny Horne, one of three legislators sponsoring H-4037.

The other sponsors of H4037 are Reps. Peter McCoy and John King.

Horne said because THC is also the chemical that produces a high, critics worry about the potential for abuse.

"Other states have done this quite successfully and we've looked at some of the other states who have done it well and kind of modeled the legislation off those other states.," Horne said.

Horne said thanks to the passing of 2014's legislation, the Medical University of South Carolina is currently conducting clinical trials using CBD oil. She said H4037 would also open the doors of opportunity across the state.

"Hopefully we'll be able to use our resources at MUSC to do more research on medical marijuana and the effects it can have on different conditions," Horne said. "So, it would be very regulated and (it) would have to be supervised and (there would be) tight controls on what is grown and what is harvested, for what purposes and that sort of thing."

On Thursday, Horne said she's not confident H-4037 will pass this session. McCoy feels there's a 50/50 chance, but he's hoping other lawmakers will see the benefits.

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Full Article: SC: Lawmakers Eye Legal Medical Marijuana As New Term Kicks Off In Statehouse
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Photo Credit: The Columbus Dispatch
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