Medical Use of Marijuana Act

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, SO AS TO ENACT THE "MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA ACT"; BY ADDING ARTICLE 22 TO CHAPTER 53, TITLE 44 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE CERTIFIED PATIENTS TO USE MARIJUANA FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES, PRACTITIONERS TO RECOMMEND THE MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA FOR THOSE PATIENTS, AND INDIVIDUALS TO ACT AS DESIGNATED CAREGIVERS FOR THOSE PATIENTS, ALL WITH EXCEPTIONS; TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS, INCLUDING "CERTIFIED MEDICAL USE", "INDIVIDUAL DOSE", AND "SERIOUS CONDITION"; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO MAINTAIN A CONFIDENTIAL LIST OF ALL PERSONS TO WHOM IT HAS ISSUED A REGISTRY IDENTIFICATION CARD; TO REQUIRE PRACTITIONERS WHEN PROVIDING A CERTIFICATION TO CONSIDER, AMONG OTHER FACTORS, THE FORM OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND THE METHOD OF CONSUMPTION FOR THE PATIENT; TO PROVIDE CERTAIN DEFENSES AND OTHER PROTECTIONS TO CERTIFIED PATIENTS, DESIGNATED CAREGIVERS, AND PRACTITIONERS FROM CRIMINAL LIABILITY AND PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINE FOR CONDUCT AUTHORIZED BY THIS ARTICLE; TO AUTHORIZE THE REGISTRATION OF ORGANIZATIONS TO ACQUIRE, POSSESS, MANUFACTURE, SELL, DISTRIBUTE, AND DISPENSE MARIJUANA FOR CERTIFIED MEDICAL USE, AND TO REQUIRE SUCH ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTRACT WITH LABORATORIES FOR TESTING OF MARIJUANA; TO ESTABLISH THE "EMERGENCY MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACCESS PROGRAM" AND PROVIDE FOR ITS PURPOSES; TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CERTAIN FEES; TO CREATE CRIMINAL PENALTIES; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS AND TO SUBMIT CERTAIN REPORTS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.