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South Carolina Governor Signs Limited Medical Marijuana Bill Into Law

COLUMBIA, SC — South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (R) signed a complicated bill into law Wednesday that would allow patients limited access to cannabis extracts rich in cannabidiol (CBD) to help epileptic seizures.

CBD-Only Bill Signed Into South Carolina Law

S 1305 – the Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Treatment Act – was passed by the House and Senate with overwhelming support. As its written, the bill could make it difficult for patients to acquire their medicine.

robert capecchiS 1305 requires that medical marijuana be distributed in the form of a CBD-rich extract, and not in the raw plant form. The CBD-rich oil will be given to patients suffering from Epileptic Seizures; it will made available to children if they have the proper prescription from a doctor.

The CBD oil must be inspected and approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration before it can be provided to patients.

“While this is an improvement to current law, it leaves the vast majority of medical marijuana patients without legal protections for using and possessing the medicine their doctor thinks is best for them.” – Robert Capecchi

Furthermore, it may only be administered in the setting of a clinical study. Patients will be monitored while receiving treatment, and they will not be permitted to administer the oil themselves.

S 1305 will grant seriously sick patients limited access to medicine, but it remains to be seen how South Carolina’s program will pan out now that its been signed into law.

The Marijauna Policy Project’s (MPP) Deputy Director of State Policies, Robert Capecchi, is skeptical. “While this is an improvement to current law, it leaves the vast majority of medical marijuana patients without legal protections for using and possessing the medicine their doctor thinks is best for them,” he explains.

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Joe Sousa

Joe Sousa is a recent Journalism Graduate from Franklin Pierce University with a passion for writing and ending cannabis prohibition. Joe is using his journalism experience to inform people about important movements occurring within the …