{"id":376244,"date":"2016-03-31T21:36:41","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:36:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/south-carolina-law\/south-carolina-marijuana-laws.html"},"modified":"2025-10-03T14:31:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T19:31:50","slug":"south-carolina-marijuana-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/south-carolina-law\/south-carolina-marijuana-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"South Carolina Marijuana Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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South Carolina Marijuana Laws<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Kit Yona, M.A.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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South Carolina<\/span> marijuana laws<\/span> prohibit all forms of cannabis<\/span> possession, use, and distribution, with criminal penalties ranging from misdemeanor<\/span> fines to felony prison sentences. The state classifies marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance<\/span> with no accepted medical use<\/span>, making it illegal for both recreational and medical purposes except for a very limited epilepsy exception. Possession of even small amounts can result in jail time<\/span> and fines.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Legalized marijuana is becoming commonplace\u00a0for most Americans\u00a0\u2014 more than\u00a038 states allow access to some form of legal cannabis. But this isn’t the case\u00a0in South Carolina, where all use of marijuana is illegal. There is no medical marijuana program, no adult-use recreational cannabis use, and stiff penalties in place for offenders.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Possessing any amount of marijuana in South Carolina can land you on the wrong side of law enforcement. With that in mind, this article will\u00a0go over how the state’s cannabis laws work and what you’re risking with marijuana possession. The attempts for the legalization of\u00a0medical marijuana<\/a>\u00a0will be examined, along with the few underwhelming options for compassionate relief available.\u00a0<\/p>\n

South Carolina Criminal Penalties for\u00a0Marijuana<\/h2>\n

Across the state, the possession and sale of marijuana remains illegal. There is no such thing as legal medical or recreational use of marijuana in South Carolina.\u00a0Selling any amount of marijuana<\/a>\u00a0in the state is a felony, punishable by up to life in prison, depending on factors like:<\/p>\n