The State of South Carolina has enacted an industrial hemp law in 2014, allowing a licensed production of this crop by South Carolina farmers. This state has a CBD-specific medical marijuana law also enacted in 2014, with only a few qualifying conditions. Other than this, South Carolina has a firm hold on the ban on cannabis-related products.
CBD in the Palmetto State
The initial talks of allowing the cultivation of industrial hemp in South Carolina began in 2007, but it was in 2014 when the state legislators separated the hemp and marijuana definitions, allowing the cultivation of hemp as an industrial crop. After amending and updating this law several times, in 2018 South Carolina farmers planted 256 acres of hemp for the first time.
CBD and CBD oil
CBD is an abbreviation for cannabidiol, one of 113 identified cannabinoids. These chemical compounds are naturally occurring in the cannabis plant and have a variety of effects. The most famous cannabinoid of all is THC, which has psychoactive properties and is illegal in large part of the world.
CBD or cannabidiol has strong beneficial medical effects and it helps with the reduction of inflammation, helps with depression, anxiety and stress relief, pain management, helps with eating disorders and nausea, and relieves the symptoms of PTSD and other conditions.
The cannabis plants come in a wide variety of strains with different terpene profiles and different amounts of THC and CBD. The THC-rich strains are known as marijuana; the CBD rich strains are known as industrial hemp. Here are two strains with good amounts of CBD and THC and with favorable medical benefits.
- ACDC has a very low THC content ranging between 1 and 6%, and very high CBD content going up to 20%. Its buds smell earthy, sweet, and slightly skunky, with slight fruity hints. The flavors it leaves are interesting, with a spicy, fruity taste. This strain is very useful for medical marijuana users, as it helps with pain, nausea, anxiety, depression, and seizures.
- Harmonia is a strain with higher CBD and lower THC levels, usually at 12% and 10% respectively. It smells earthy, herbal and fruity, and leaves a taste of sweet fruits, lemons, and pine sap. This strain is useful when dealing with muscle spasms, cramps, anxiety, stress, pain, and inflammation. Due to the high indica influence, this has a preferred nighttime use.
South Carolina CBD Oil Laws
The State of South Carolina has a law related to the cultivation of industrial hemp, but it has no law related to the free use of CBD products. Seeing as there are federal laws legalizing the use of CBD oil, as long as it is derived from industrial hemp and has less than 0.3% THC, we can only assume that this is legal to be used in this southern state.
But this is still a grey area with some undefined aspects, as the FDA does not allow the use of CBD for public use, and the US Federal Farm Bill of 2014 has allowed the use of CBD in the entire USA. Thus, South Carolinians can use CBD products as long as these comply with federal law.
Medical Marijuana
South Carolinian people can use medical marijuana only in the form of high CBD oil with a licensed physician’s recommendation. The CBD oil has to have at least 15% CBD and less than 0.9% THC. The patients need to have one of three qualifying conditions: Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and refractory epilepsy.
The state does not have a dispensary system, and this is still an undefined field. However, there is a medical cannabis act known as the South Carolina Compassionate Care Act that is in consideration in the House of Representatives and should be voted on in late 2019.
Sorry, No Weed for South Carolina
The South Carolina laws don’t allow any type of use of marijuana. This means that there is no lighting a joint in South Carolina, but if you risk it and have less than an ounce of weed with you, then you face a 30-day stay in prison and a $200 fine. A second offense is a year in prison and $2K fine. Dealers face at least a five-year prison sentence and $5K fine.
CBD Buying Options
The people of South Carolina can get some good CBD products in several retail stores across the state. Some of these can be found in Charleston, Greenville, Mount Pleasant and Goose Creek. For the people that are far from the CBD retail stores, there is always the option to order online. By going online to order, people can select the best product for them and check the manufacturer’s credentials; not to mention, free delivery to your home.
Finishing thoughts
South Carolina has a law allowing the commercial cultivation of industrial hemp, and last year 256 acres of this crop were planted here. Also, there is no legal allowance of medical marijuana, but only high CBD oil for medicinal applications. There is no state registry or licensed dispensaries, but patients get recommendations from their physicians and can get this kind of oil from universities conducting research. The medical CBD oil needs to have more than 15% CBD and less than 0.9% THC.
There is no medical marijuana law, although there is one in the making, expected to get in session late in 2019. Also, this state does not allow the recreational use of marijuana, and anyone caught possessing an ounce of weed on them or smoking weed will get a 30-day prison stay and $200 fine. Lastly, there are retail stores carrying CBD products across South Carolina, but many people find the online purchase a more convenient way of getting their favorite CBDs.
