Short answer
South Carolina has no adult-use cannabis market. It has no full medical cannabis program. One state law permits CBD oil with THC at or below 0.9% for patients with epilepsy. Possession of 1 ounce or less is a misdemeanor. A first offense carries up to 30 days in jail and a fine of $200 to $1,000.
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What is legal
Julian's Law, Act 255 of 2014, allows a doctor to recommend CBD oil for epilepsy. The law names Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and other severe seizure disorders. The program ran through the Medical University of South Carolina. The law created no dispensaries. It covers oil. Flower, edibles, and vape cartridges are not covered.
The South Carolina Hemp Farming Act of 2019, Act 14, allows hemp production in the state. Federal law defines hemp as cannabis with 0.3% THC or less by dry weight. Stores in South Carolina sell hemp-derived products under that limit. State rules for these products have changed in past sessions. Check guidance from the state before you buy.
Penalties for possession
- 1 ounce or less, first offense: up to 30 days in jail, $200 to $1,000 fine.
- 1 ounce or less, second offense: up to 1 year in jail, $2,000 fine.
- 1 ounce or less, third offense: up to 5 years in prison, $5,000 fine.
- More than 1 ounce: charges escalate. Weight and prior record set the sentence.
Sale and trafficking carry longer terms. Federal law lists cannabis as a Schedule I drug. Possession on federal land, including national parks and military bases, is a federal offense.
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Bills in the legislature
The Compassionate Care Act would create a medical program with licensed dispensaries and patient cards. The state Senate passed the bill in 2022 on a 28-15 vote. The House did not vote on it. The Senate has passed medical cannabis bills in later sessions. The House has not passed one. I do not have the status of the current session bill. The state legislature site lists bill text and vote history.
Border states
- Georgia: low-THC oil program. No adult-use sales.
- Florida: medical only. No adult-use sales.
- North Carolina: no medical or adult-use program. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians opened a medical dispensary in 2024.
- Tennessee: no medical program.
- Virginia: adults 21 and older may possess up to 1 ounce. Retail sales have been delayed. Verify status.
- Maryland: adult-use stores open since July 2023.
Adults in South Carolina have no store in the state. The closest adult-use retail is in Maryland, about 6 hours by car from the South Carolina line.
Convenience and the market
Convenience decides where money goes in states with legal markets. A store 10 minutes away gets the sale. South Carolina has no store. A drive to Maryland takes a day. That trip is not a substitute for a local market.
Medical cannabis bills have reached the Senate floor for more than a decade. The House has not passed one. Until that changes, state law offers residents two paths: CBD oil at or below 0.9% THC for epilepsy, or hemp products at or below 0.3% THC. Out-of-state medical cards carry no weight here, because the state issues no cards.