Poll: Majority of adults in South Carolina support recreational medicinal cannabis

Adults in South Carolina appear to support legal medicinal cannabis, according to a new poll, and the majority also support recreational use.

The survey, conducted by Winthrop University, included interviews with 1,657 South Carolina adults from March 25 through April 1. In addition to cannabis, the poll measured the popularity of politicians and asked residents for their opinions on a range of other issues, including legal sports betting, Christianity in America and LGBTQ issues.

South Carolina residents support legal cannabis

The poll found that 76% of South Carolina adults support legal medical cannabis. The two main political parties were generally unanimous on the issue, with 80% of Democrats and 72% of Republicans in favor.

“Support for medical marijuana in South Carolina has grown steadily over the years, particularly as other states have moved toward legalization without an apparent societal collapse,” Huffmon, director of Winthrop Poll, said in a university press release.

The two parties are a bit more divided when it comes to recreational cannabis, but a majority (56%) of the general public supports its legalization. Republicans are split, 45-45%, while Democrats are 62% in favor of legalizing adult use. Overall support increased by two percentage points compared to the 2022 Winthrop University survey.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), sponsor of the States Reform Act that pushed for federal cannabis legalization at the last Congress, tweeted about the results.

“Interesting insights into cannabis and gay marriage supported by the majority of people in South Carolina. Not as controversial as some would like you to believe. That tells me our state loves freedom,” she wrote. “I wish they had asked about women’s issues and gun violence – maybe next time.”

A missed opportunity for medicinal cannabis

South Carolina has yet to legalize medical or recreational cannabis, and the results come after a pivotal time for the state when it comes to cannabis. The South Carolina Compassionate Care Act aimed to legalize medicinal cannabis, but it died in the House of Representatives last year. Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, reinstated the law this year, but it awaits debate in the Senate, where it passed by a 28-15 vote last year.

The bill would legalize medicinal cannabis for patients with certain qualifying conditions, but smoking would be banned, as would possession of herbal forms of cannabis. Medical products like topicals, oils and vapes would be made by regulated suppliers, and patients would be limited to buying a two-week supply of cannabis at a time.

A vote to give the legislation priority for debate in the Senate also fell in early March. South Carolina veterans and supporters have asked senators to debate the law so it has a better chance of becoming law this year, WSPA reported March 28.

“South Carolina wants this. This should have happened years ago,” Cody Callarman, Navy veteran and founder of CBD company Carolina Dream, said during a press conference at the State House this week. “If they want to keep fighting cannabis, that’s fine. But can we at least get the sick, dying, and sick off the battlefield?”

However, the bill had to pass the Senate by March 30 to pass this year. The legislature could still advance this session, although doing so would require the support of the majority of the legislature.

Most recently, the bill was pushed forward by the Senate Medical Affairs Committee in February.

In a bid to gain approval from conservative lawmakers, Davis admitted the bill would create one of the most stringent medical cannabis programs in existence. As members of the House of Representatives debated the legislation last year, David said the bill aims to prevent recreational cannabis use.

“I want people to look at South Carolina law and say, ‘If you want a law that helps patients and empowers doctors, but doesn’t go down the slope to recovery, this is your bill,'” he told colleagues in the House of Representatives.