According to a recent poll, it appears adults in South Carolina support legal medical marijuana, with the majority supporting recreational use as well.
Winthrop University conducted the survey. It involved 1,657 South Carolina adult interviews between March 25 and April 1. The poll also asked about other issues, such as legal sports betting, Christianity in America, and LGBTQ rights.
South Carolina residents support legal cannabis
According to the survey, 76% of South Carolina adult residents are in favour of medical marijuana being legalized. Both major political parties were in agreement on this topic. 80% of Democrats supported the issue and 72% Republicans.
In a university press release, Winthrop poll director Huffmon stated that “Support of medical marijuana has grown steadily over the years in South Carolina. This is especially true as other states are moving towards legalization with no apparent social collapse.”
Both parties have a more polarized view on recreational cannabis. However, the majority of Americans (56%) support its legalization. Republicans and Democrats have a 45 to 45% split while Democrats support legalizing adult use at 62%. Overall support has increased two percentage points since the Winthrop University survey in 2022.
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-SC, sponsor of States Reform Act that pushed federal legalization for cannabis last Congress spoke out about the results .
The majority of South Carolinians support the findings on cannabis and homosexual marriage. It’s not as controversial as you might think. “This tells me that our state is very free,” wrote she. She wrote: “I wish they had asked about gun violence and women’s issues – perhaps next time.”
Missed opportunity for medical cannabis
South Carolina is yet to legalize recreational or medical marijuana, even though the time has been pivotal for the state in terms of cannabis. South Carolina Compassionate Care Act was intended to legalize medical marijuana, but it died in the House last year. The bill was reintroduced by Sen. Tom Davis (R-Beaufort) this year. However, it is still waiting for debate in the Senate, after it passed 28-15 last year.
The bill legalizes medical cannabis to patients who meet certain conditions. Smoking and possession of marijuana plant products would both be banned. The bill would allow medical cannabis products such as topicals, oils, and vapes to be manufactured by licensed suppliers. Patients would only be allowed to purchase a maximum of two weeks’ supply at a time.
In March, a vote that would have given the bill priority in a Senate debate also failed. The WSPA reported that South Carolina veterans and supporters pleaded with senators to discuss the bill to give it a greater chance to become law this year.
South Carolina wants it. Cody Callarman said, “This should have happened years ago” during a recent press conference held at the State House by Cody Callarman. Cody is a Marine veteran, and the founder of Carolina Dream CBD, he founded. If they continue the war against cannabis, then that is fine. Can we get sick, dying and ill people off of the battlefield?
The bill must pass the Senate before March 30, in order to become law this year. This legislation may still be advanced this session but it will require supermajority approval in the legislature.
The bill was passed by the Senate Medical Affairs Committee last February.
Davis admits that his bill will create the strictest medical cannabis program in order to win the approval of conservative legislators. David stated that when House members discussed the legislation in the past, the bill was designed to stop recreational cannabis.
He said to colleagues that he wanted them to take a look at South Carolina’s law. “If you are looking for a bill which empowers physicians and helps their patients, but does not go into recreational use, then this is the right one,” he told them.
The article South Carolina adults support medical and recreational cannabis first appeared on High Times.
