South Carolina Sen. Tom Davis (R-Beaufort) has been sponsoring medical cannabis legislation in the state for years, and recently told WMBF that the issue could pass the Legislature and be signed into law this year.
“I’m optimistic about this bill being approved by both chambers of the Legislature and sent to Gov. McMaster before we adjourn in May,” Davis told the news outlet. “I’ve done a pretty good canvassing of my colleagues in the state senate. I’m confident that I have a majority of senators in favor of this bill.”
Davis’ legislation would allow doctors to recommend medical cannabis to patients with debilitating medical conditions such as Crohn’s, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain.
A similar proposal stalled in the Senate last year, which Davis attributed to higher-priority bills taking precedent during the 2021 legislative session, WMBF reported.
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The legislation has faced opposition from members of law enforcement, including South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel, according to the news outlet. In addition, there has been no public support from Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, who has previously said that he wants to see the results of legalization in other states before legalizing cannabis in South Carolina.
“There may be some answers there, but I want to have more information and see the experience in … other states,” McMaster said last summer, according to WMBF.