South Carolina Activists Rally for Marijuana Reform as Legalization Fight Continues
A day-long rally took place at the State House in Columbia, South Carolina, as advocates pushed for the state to end its prohibition on marijuana. The event, known as the Free the Weed Prohibition Rally, aimed to bring attention to the need for reform in the state’s cannabis laws.
South Carolina is one of only four states in the US where marijuana is illegal for both medical and recreational use. Advocates argue that it’s time for this to change, citing the plant’s potential medical benefits and the harm caused by its criminalization.
“It’s not a drug, it’s a plant, and plants should not be putting people in jail,” said Bob Chapman, executive director of the South Carolina Cannabis Coalition. “We’re not just talking about recreational use, we’re talking about medical use and decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana.”
Chapman highlighted the state’s lack of progress in reforming its cannabis laws, despite the passage of a medical marijuana bill in 1980. The South Carolina Senate has twice passed medical cannabis legislation, but it has failed to pass in the House.
State Senator Billy Garrett, a Republican, has opposed full legalization but has expressed support for medical marijuana under controlled circumstances. However, he has expressed concerns about the risks of full legalization, citing the potential for it to become a gateway drug.
Despite these concerns, supporters remain committed to pushing for reform. “This plant comes from the earth, and South Carolina knows this,” said JDub Audits, a cannabis advocate. “I know they’re smart enough to see the medical benefits. Ignoring them is absurd, and it’s hurting a lot of people.”
The rally comes as the state continues to see a high number of arrests for cannabis possession. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, South Carolina saw over 10,000 such arrests in 2023 alone. Advocates hope that their efforts will eventually lead to the legalization of marijuana in the state.
