According to Republican Sen. Tom Davis of South Carolina, legalizing marijuana for medicinal use in the state would allow doctors to better serve their patients.
Davis is the sponsor of the Compassionate Care Act, a bill that would allow cannabis use for terminal, debilitating medical conditions such as cancer or chronic diseases that could be treated with opioids.
Through the bill, patients would be able to purchase up to 2 ounces (57 grams) of marijuana or its equivalent every two weeks, if prescribed by a doctor.
“This is a very conservative, strictly regulated, tightly drawn bill that empowers physicians under very controlled circumstances to authorize cannabis use by patients for very specific conditions,” said Davis. “This could be an example of how socially conservative states can authorize a physician to do what they think is the patient’s best interest and does not lead to recreational.
“I hope that this bill is passed so that I can no longer have to send my patients to Florida and other states to receive treatment,” remarked Family practitioner Dr. Monnie Singleton.
Dr. John C. Ropp III, board chairman for the South Carolina Medical Association, however said, “While in the midst of an ongoing and deeply tragic opioid crisis, itself full of unintended consequences that affect us all, we would do well to avoid another substance crisis. We have a chance to prevent poor legislation from passing and to work on real, safe, and reasonable solutions now. The physicians of South Carolina stand ready to help — we’re always on call.”