South Carolina legislature fails to limit THC hemp product sales; products remain legal

A legislative effort to restrict THC hemp products in South Carolina has stalled, leaving the market unregulated.

FILE — statehouse · B.D. Gilfry / CC BY-SA 2.0

South Carolina's legislature has failed to pass restrictions on THC hemp products, according to reporting from SC Daily Gazette, meaning the products will continue to operate in the state without new legal limits. The outcome represents a shift from earlier legislative momentum: in March, the SC Senate approved a bill that would have legalized hemp THC drinks and gummies with restrictions, and in June lawmakers had sought to restrict the products pending federal action.

The failure to restrict suggests competing interests shaped the outcome. Law enforcement had urged lawmakers to reject THC hemp legalization in February, citing public safety concerns, while medical cannabis advocates raised objections to restrictions as federal rescheduling discussions advance. An obscure existing South Carolina medical marijuana law could become activated if federal rescheduling occurs, adding complexity to the state's regulatory picture.

The stalled restrictions mean the unregulated hemp THC market can expand. Watch for whether federal cannabis rescheduling moves forward and whether it triggers South Carolina's dormant medical marijuana statute, which could reshape the regulatory landscape regardless of recent legislative inaction.