RECOMMENDING CANNABIS IN SOUTH CAROLINA
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South Carolina does not have a comprehensive medical cannabis program. Cannabis remains broadly illegal in the state for both medical and recreational purposes. The only limited exception in current state law is Julian's Law (S.C. Code Ann. Sections 44-53-1810 through 44-53-1870), enacted in 2014 as the Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Treatment Research Act. Julian's Law does not establish a patient registration program or dispensary system. It is a narrow research authorization that allows certain patients with qualifying forms of epilepsy to participate in FDA-approved clinical trials using cannabidiol (CBD) extract. |
Julian's Law (S.C. Code Ann. Sections 44-53-1810 through 44-53-1870), enacted in 2014. This law authorizes participation by qualifying patients with certain severe, treatment-resistant forms of epilepsy in FDA-approved clinical trials involving cannabidiol. The statute defines "physician" as a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathic medicine licensed by the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners. Julian's Law does not establish a practitioner registration program, a certification process, or a patient card system. It does not authorize practitioners to certify or recommend cannabis for any condition outside of the clinical trial framework.
No practitioner registration, CME requirement, certification form, or patient registry exists under current South Carolina law.
Medical professionals have a legal right to recommend cannabis as a treatment in any state, as protected by the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act (Title III section 301) which became law on December 2, 2022, and the First Amendment (established by a 2004 United States Supreme Court decision to uphold earlier federal court rulings that doctors, and their patients have a fundamental Constitutional right to freely discuss treatment options).
DOWNLOAD MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, MEDICAL CANNABIS & THE LAW
| State-by-state compassionate use programs are not the ultimate goal for medical cannabis patients; they are a means to aid patients in finding safe cannabis products until federal laws change. Americans for Safe Access is working to create a national program that would include prescriptions, standardized products, and a pathway to insurance coverage. Learn more about ASA Campaigns. |
*UPDATE: FEDERAL CANNABIS LAWS HAVE CHANGED AS OF APRIL 28, 2026: Learn more here.
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